Brian’s Elijah Craig Small Batch Private Barrel – ISLD Batch 2, 2019 Bourbon Review
Elijah Craig Small Batch Private Barrel, Batch 2 reviewed 04-May-2021
ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD BATCH #2, 2019 REVIEW:
From time-to-time, we shuffle our bunker and find a true unicorn. Elijah Craig Small Batch Private Barrel – ISLD Batch 2, 2019 (ECSB PB – ISLD B2) is an example. One might ask, why even post a review on something no longer available, or from a bottle most people will never enjoy? Fair questions to be sure. As a store pick whiskey, it is important to be mindful of what can be had if one takes the time to look. So when you see a bottle labeled as a “Private Barrel”, take one home.
ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD BATCH #2, 2019 VITAL STATS:
Category: Small Batch Private Barrel
Region: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery
Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, and 12% Barley
Barrel Char: #3
Barrel Serial #: 25164391
Warehouse: KK-4 (Schenley)
Vintage Year: 2007
Age: 12 Years Old
Barrel Entry Proof: 125 proof
ABV: 47 (94 Proof)
Price: $29.95 (September 2019 in Idaho)
Availability: Highly limited, sold out
ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD BATCH #2, 2019 BACK STORY:
On occasion, certain barrels aged in Heaven Hill’s Bardstown, KY, USA rickhouses destined to become Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon outshine others. When this happens, privileged vendors are given the opportunity to purchase the contents of these special casks. The selected barrel is then dumped, bottled in personalized packaging and delivered to the purchasers account for distribution.
Cask 25164391 was one of these barrels. Made available in 2019, it was purchased by the Idaho State Liquor Division (ISLD) for exclusive sale to its Idaho patrons.
Learn more at https://heavenhill.com/.
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the evaluation, I shared the whiskey neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
ELIJAH CRAIG SB PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD B#2, 2019 NOSE:
When first brought to my nose, ECSB PB – ISLD B2 has little ethanol burn, but light fruit tree blossoms, sweet corn and a fresh hit of mint come through as well. I also get apple cider, Maraschino cherries and fresh grated citrus zest mixed in light ginger, white pepper and rye as vanilla custard, hard candy, simple syrup, and candy corn blend with light oak and a slight piney woodiness.
ELIJAH CRAIG SB PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD B#2, 2019 PALATE:
In the mouth, ECSB PB – ISLD B2 has a pleasant but slight ethanol burn. The Heaven Hill herbal funk is fresh, as mint, soft apples and citrus zest mix with cinnamon, cloves, pepper and rye. Batch 2’s fresh spiciness dominates the light vanilla and sweets of hard candy, simple syrup, and cinnamon spiced almonds as dry and hazy barrel char fade.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
ECSB PB – ISLD B2 is a solid bourbon and to me much better than readily available Elijah Craig Small Batch. While it is simple, it’s buttery smooth mouthfeel and freshness is a welcome change from the bourbons I usually drink. Each sip is easy to hold and as the Glencairn is set down, irregularly spaced clinging legs transport the liquid back to the honey colored pool to leave a broken crown.
ELIJAH CRAIG SB PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD B#2, 2019 FINISH:
ECSB PB – ISLD B2 finishes short on flavors but has a nice lingering warmth. Before fading, each sip has Heaven Hill herbalness with but with enhanced fruit tree blossoms and the ever-present hint of mint and citrus zest. Cinnamon and pepper dominate, but faint brown sugar caramel plays hide and seek among dry and hazy oak barrels. And when the last dram is downed, seasoned dry oak drifts from the empty Glencairn.
MY ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD BATCH #2, 2019 RATING: 89/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
While this bottling will never be on store shelves, I will buy Elijah Craig Private Barrel offerings when found.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 89/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.
ELIJAH CRAIG SB PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD BATCH #2, 2019 TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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