Category: Bourbon Whiskey

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Review

Original review written on December 28, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Sweetness with a mellow base of fruit and brininess, this is a unique bottle, while still definitely a Heaven Hill product. I’ll enjoy this one quite a lot. 87/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Review

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Rye=10%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 47% (94 proof)
– Price: $54.95 USD in Idaho 2021

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed this bourbon neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine a movie theater pairing with this whiskey quite well. While it is full of sweetness, I can’t help but want movie theater popcorn to join to even out the salt/sweetness combo even more. It’s easy sipping – and by extension, easy eating. Next movie night, or tv binge I indulge in, Elijah Craig Toasted is gonna be sitting right next to me with some popcorn; I am determined.

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

NOSE:

Sweetness comes across the nose first, with vanilla taffy and brown sugar seeming to lead the charge. There is also butterscotch candies and a chocolate nougat quality – even fudgy. I can find a praline element, with salted nuts – coming through with the chocolate. What is impressive, is that despite there being all of these sweet notes, the nose does not come across as sickeningly sugary. Instead, there is a definite brininess (perhaps appearing with the salted nuts) that provides an extra layer of depth and balances out the candies and chocolates.

The alcohol is mild, and even deep draws don’t burn. Can’t find a great deal of oak, despite this being strongly marketed as a toasted barrel product. Nevertheless, the aromas are inviting, and I am looking forward to taking a sip.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Review

– Mouth Feel: Soft. Not much else to say, but that it’s soft and easy to hold.
– Balance: Though this is sweetness heavy, the mellowness and nuttiness and fruit allow the sweet to shine but not aggressively so.
– Visual: Burnt amber in color, this leaves many thick legs dropping from an ill-defined crown. They drop quickly, leaving behind several droplets that fall in a secondary curtain of legs.

– Taste: The sweetness from the nose continues from there into the palate. More vanilla, brown sugar, (even marshmallow now), certainly, but there is also newfound fruit as well. A gourmet chocolate with a fruit jam (marionberry) inside, this pops in the most pleasant of ways on the palate. The nuts are still here as well, but they don’t seem as salted as they were before. If anything, they are like peanut crumbs, matching with the chocolate perfectly. I also find more of the corn influence here, with soft, natural sweetness coming through.

The alcohol is still incredibly gentle, and I don’t have any concern that it could burn. A Kentucky chew doesn’t push the alcohol forward too much either, though there is a slight bite. Instead, a pastry confection comes forward with fruit and vanilla icing and chocolate that makes my mouth simply salivate.

The wood has yet to burst forward either, though it does seem to be a bit more present on the palate than it was on the nose. The oak in it acts as a base for the other flavors, with the objective certainly to be subtle.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. Moderate warmth lingers on the palate along with some minor aftertaste.
– Between Sips: The corn sweetness I find the most between sips, with the slightest hint of vanilla. This aspect of the bourbon, truthfully, is nothing too memorable or remarkable, but it is decent.

– No More: This certainly stays consistent as I go through the glass. If anything, this continues to mellow out. It must be a result of the toasted barrel – while not imparting a great deal of flavor, it continues to act as a strong base for the other flavors to play off of.

The empty Glencairn is sweet, straight sawdust. Entirely enjoyable, and I’d love it in a candle.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At a little more than $50, and still cheaper than Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings, I do think that this bourbon is worth the price. I don’t know if I’d want to pay much more than the $55 for this, but it is quite solid. If you like sweetness and mellowness brought on by toasted quality, give this a try.

ELIJAH CRAIG TOASTED BARREL REVIEW RATING: 87/100

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Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Review

Original review written on November 30, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Not as impressed with this ECBP batch as I have been with others in the past. Baking flavors abound, but there is a bitterness that makes it less thrilling to sip. 78/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Review

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Rye=10%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 60.1% (120.2 proof)
– Price: $69.95 USD in Idaho (2021)

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the spirit neat from a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review of this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine this ECBP would fit well on a beach on a cloudy, cold day. It wouldn’t be overbearing, but it would be certainly present while you walk amidst the dark, cool tone colors. Its color and character both brighten and blend into the scenery around you and work to definitely complete the picture.

Photo by Alexander Kaufmann on Unsplash

NOSE:

This smells readily of woody caramel, vanilla cake, and corn. There is even a vanilla icing – a pure vanilla icing with powdered sugar nearly crystalized. I’m reminded of the drizzle that goes on pastry turnovers (maybe turnovers with baked cherries). I still find a light brown sugar, and even a yeasty/bready component to go with these other baking flavors. What I cannot detect is any type of spice – even a baking spice like cinnamon or ginger. It’s just solid sweet and mellow, woody earthiness.

The alcohol is almost nonexistent to my nose, even on deep inhales, though it is on these deep inhales that I can coax out a touch of cinnamon that is not-quite smoky, but close. As a whole, this bourbon smells good, but it doesn’t quite smell like traditional ECBP, which is more spice and fruit forward.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Review

– Mouth Feel: I find a kick at the back of the palate, but otherwise, it’s viscous.
– Balance: I wish this had more roots in other flavor profiles; this seems disconnected and confused.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, this has many small droplets that form the shape of the ring and very few legs.

– Taste: This tastes a lot hotter than how it smells, and it’s slightly jolting. It’s not burning or unbearable with its heat, but as a sipper who was anticipating softness, given the nose, I feel like I need a bit of recalibrating. After I adapt, I can notice that the pastry from the nose is still present, and there is a heightened sense of cinnamon as well. In fact, the cinnamon seems to have grown enough to turn almost bitter, especially on the aftertaste. The bitterness also has a burnt caramel essence, but definitely heavy cinnamon is the strongest contributor.

I don’t think this palate is particularly complex. There is still plenty of baking sweetness, from the aforementioned cinnamon (though it comes with bitterness included), vanilla, and even some cake. But I don’t detect strong fruits or others spices to work with this sweetness. The only company is that bitterness, and I’m not sure I entirely enjoy that.

I can adapt to the alcohol burn, and now it does not seem too harsh. What it is grounded to – whether that be other flavors or wood – that is a mystery. It doesn’t seem connected to much. The Kentucky chew I think is the biggest thing to revive this bourbon. While the alcohol stings significantly, it does bring out more fruit – decidedly cherries and plums – and overall character.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Short-medium. I get more of an aftertaste than anything specifically warming.
– Between Sips: The bitterness lingers the most between sips, and without significant bourbon warmth to match it, it disappoints in this category unfortunately.

– No More: This does improve the further into the glass I get, with more fruit, like baked apples coming into play. I don’t think they are strong enough necessarily to remove the bitterness, but it helps.

The empty Glencairn has perhaps one of the softest, sweet oaks I’ve encountered in an empty glass. I only find significant aroma on deep inhales, having to practically hunt for it. I’m not used to this in an empty glass, and again – I’m a bit let down.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

– This section written on November 13, 2021 –

Water can often tame bold whiskeys and the addition of 2-4 drops will not radically change the proof of the pour. Rather water may help open the spirit allowing the aromas and flavors to bloom. As such, 2 and 4 drops of distilled water were added to their own respective 1.5 oz. pours of ECBP C921 to detect any potential differences:

This glass smells a lot more of spice and rye on the nose than it did neat. Some of the baking flavors, like vanilla, woody caramel, and cake are still present, but I am now finding more notes of allspice and figs to complement. I’m already more impressed with this than I was on the neat nose. On the taste, I still find a lot of the bitter from the neat tasting here as well. This bitterness seems to derive from the wood, being definitely piney in nature. Nevertheless, this offering is far superior to than what it was neat. The finish is even better, being much warmer having some fruit notes as well. (RATING: 86/100)

This smells now even more fruit and rich, warm spices with four drops added. There’s also a sudden savory component with a dash of saltiness to match the sweet, like salted caramel. This element is so minor, it’s easy to miss and ignore it though; it simply adds a bit of an extra backbone to the rest of the nose. On the palate, I get a zing of baking sweetness that goes straight to the salivary glands. It’s cinnamon, clove, and still plenty of caramel. The bitterness is far more subdued this way, though I do lose touch with some of the fruit I found with two drops. This is far superior to drinking ECBP C921 neat. (RATING: 90/100)

WORTH THE PRICE?

For a $70 bourbon, no I honestly do not think it is worth the price. For a bourbon in the ECBP lineup? Definitely not worth the $70 price tag, if you’re only drinking it neat. It’s not a bad bourbon, but if you’re coming into this thinking it’s going to be like the others in the ECBP line, prepare for some significant differences. Adding some water improves its score and makes it closer to a $70 value, for certain – whether you’re adding two, four, or even more drops. This glass improves with water, plain and simple.

We do have a couple bottles of this now reserved in our bunker, and I don’t think I’ll have a problem pouring it. However, given the contents of our bunker, I can see me reaching for many other things before reaching for this.

ELIJAH CRIAG BARREL PROOF C921 REVIEW RATING NEAT: 78/100

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Click 78/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Bourbon

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Bourbon Review:

reviewed on 30-November-2021

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C921 BOURBON REVIEW:

First I must say since Batch C917, I’ve enjoyed the nine previous ECBP offerings I have had. However, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 (ECBP C921) sets a new low for me. From nose to finish the bourbon in this bottle is convoluted. At 120 proof, the nose has little if any heat, yet the pour packs a punch at the back of the palate and on the finish. I sense fruit on the nose but can taste only traces. The reverse is true for spices and although sweet aromas can be sensed in the mouth and finish, any woodiness I get is faint. I am still happy to have a back up bottle in the bunker, but at $70 a bottle, I will pass if I see another.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C921 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921

Category: Small Batch Barrel Proof
Region: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
Distillery: Heaven Hill/Bernheim Distillery
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Barrel Char: #3
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: 12 Years
Non-chill filtered
ABV: 60.1% (120.2 Proof)
Availability: Tri-annual Limited Release
Release Date: September 2021
Batch number identifier: C921
▪”C” Third (last) release of the year
▪”9″ Released in September
▪”21″ Released in 2021
Price: $69.95 (Fall 2021, Idaho)
NABCA CSC #: 17917

Learn more at https://heavenhill.com/.

PREPARATION:

Taken out of the newly opened bottle, the first one and a half ounces mixed with the bourbon in our Infinity Bottle Project. Then, by alternating pours, four once review amounts went into two Glencairns. My daughter and I partook this bourbon neat for the first part of the review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C921 NOSE:

Upon first nosing ECBP C921 offers a quick nip of alcohol but it fades and does not come back. There is some sherry tannin, herbal roasted corn husks and dusty grain but the usual floral notes I get with Heaven Hill products. As I continue to nose, I sense an unusual mix of fresh caramel apples, apricots, dried currants and the faint aroma of ripening bananas one might get as they are passed by in the produce aisle. Even so, there is an interesting blend of baking spices at work here. Cinnamon and white pepper back brown sugar and apple filled pastry covered with vanilla icing. Adding to the confusion, I also sense a simple but buttery brown syrup drizzled over yellow cake. This bourbon smells sweet as there is only a bit of light and dry toasted oak in the background.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C921 PALATE:

As on the nose ECBP C921 is dry, herbal, and warm. The fruit basket is all but gone although I get a taste of apples dipped in caramel topped with the dried currants. The baking spices have diminished as well although cinnamon and black pepper attempt to garner attention. But like on the nose, vanilla and buttery caramel are center stage and dominate toasted, almost charred oak.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Each sip of ECBP C921 is oily and viscous, and easy to hold but when swallowed, gives the tongue and throat a mild tickle. There is much more alcohol on the palate than I get on the nose. For me, C921 is a disjointed bourbon. Its sweetness overpowers the fruit, spice, and wood elements. After each sip, the curtain breaks inside the Glencairn allowing long clinging legs to transport the liquid back to the terracotta colored pool leaving behind a thin drop free crown ring.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C921 FINISH:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Bourbon offers a medium but warm and dry finish. It is even a bit prickly in the throat when swallowed as cinnamon and pepper mix with the rye. The sweet buttery caramel detected on the nose and tasted on the palate finishes at the end of each swallow. Yet, there is a somewhat unpleasant herbal and earthy aftertaste which competes with faint dry toasted oak as sips are taken. And when the last dram is downed, nothing but sweet light oak is all I can draw from the empty Glencairn.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

Water can often tame big, bold whiskeys and allow aromas and flavors to bloom. The addition of 2-4 drops will not radically lower the proof of the pour. Re-evaluation of ECBP C921 occurred using measured pours and precise amounts of distilled water to measure the effect.

Adding two drops to 1.5 ounces of this bourbon reduces the proof to 119.75 (down from the 120.1 bottling). ECBP C921 still has a quick nip of alcohol at first but it is manageable. The water does not dampen the herbal roasted corn husks and dusty grain and although faint I still sense fresh caramel apples. The cinnamon and brown sugared apple pie filling is inviting. Still sweet, there is only a bit of toasted oak to tie it all together. The first sip confirms my suspicion — A couple drops of water make C921 better! Flavors of fruit are more distinct as the baking spices and sweets. There is a bit of bitter oakiness but with the drops, ECBP C921 has a much nicer finish.

Adding four drops to 1.5 ounces of bourbon lowers the proof to 119.4. Upon first nosing the four drop dram, ECBP C921 I get full on caramel, maybe with a hint of salt. Gone is the alcohol, and even the fruit notes take a back seat. The baking spices seem to even enhance woody aromas making me want to take a sip. With the four drop sip in comes the Heaven Hill floral notes although they are quite faint. The blossoms add balance to the dry corn and grain and even allow the baking spices of cinnamon and white pepper to bolster pleasant fresh apple aromas. Even the oak seems stronger and less bitter. I will be adding water to future pours of ECBP C921.

MY RATING: 85/100;
… with two drops 87/100;
… with four drops 89/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
While all Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings differ, and some do not reach the standard I’ve come to expect, I will buy other offerings as I find them. And remember, water can be your friend.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

As enjoyed neat, click 85/100 to access other whiskies with this score.

Water dramatically improves Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921. Click 89/100 to access other whiskies in this tier.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921

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