Category: Bourbon Whiskey

Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon Review:

reviewed 16-November-2021

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON REVIEW:

Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon (BOP7) is a blend of three high rye bourbons, one of which was finished in Sauternes wine casks. While it is hard to believe sweet white wine casks would have much of an effect on whiskey, it works and with amazing results. This is without a doubt the best blended/Infused/Special finish Whiskey I have enjoyed to date.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon

Category: Blend of Straight Bourbons Finished in Sauternes Casks
Region: Sourced from undisclosed distilleries in Kentucky
Master Blender: John E. Rempe
Producer: Lux Row Distillers
Mash Bill: unpublished
Barrels: New Charred Oak, ex-Sauternes
Barrel Char: unpublished
Barrel entry proof: unpublished
Age: nas (Includes one 14 and two 8 year old bourbons)
Released: April 2021
ABV: 49.3% (98.6 Proof)
NABCA CSC#: 87078
Price: $99.95 (Fall 2021, Idaho, USA)

A masterful union of three well-bred bourbons. One, a 14-year extra-aged ryed bourbon. Two, an 8-year ryed bourbon. And three, another 8-year ryed bourbon, finished in sauternes wine casks from the Bordeaux region of France for a balance of sweetness with additional spice.

— Blood Oath Bourbon
SAUTERNES BACK STORY

With a maritime climate, Sauternes [sōˈtərn] is a region in the Graves section of southwest France, southeast of Bordeaux. The area is known for the sweet wine of the same name it produces. Sauternes wine is a blend of sémillon, sauvignon blanc and muscadelle grapes which have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, known by wine aficionados as noble rot. Noble rot is a condition where the grapes begin to shrivel while still on the vine which concentrates their flavors.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

Alternate pours, equaling about four ounces, were added into two Glencairns. My daughter and I enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON NOSE:

As BOP7 sits in the glass, I’m smelling sweet desert wine. I sense a touch of alcohol, maybe light sherry, and blossoming fruit trees and with each waft I get new aromas. There is a little grain, but fruits dominant; ripe berries mix with soft apple cores, red and green grapes and rich plump gourmet raisins. Continued nosing brings allspice, ginger, white pepper and rye balanced with yellow cake frosted with a concoction of vanilla custard, butterscotch, simple syrup, and honeycomb. There is not much wood here, but I do get a hint of pinenuts, some light and sweet oak and the scent of barrel wood seasoning in the sun. Best of all I get the freshness of new leather. This bourbon smells good and I look forward to the first sip.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON PALATE:

My taste buds sense green apples as soon as the liquid passes my lips. While there is a slight dryness, I do get a warm bite at first, but BOP7 is easy to hold owing to its low proof. There is a faint sweet wine flavor, likely due to the sauternes casks but the sensation is subtle. Fresh grapes are in the background of each sip but, juicy gourmet raisins shine. Allspice and rye blend as ginger provides warmth. This bourbon like a light vanilla apple pastry treat drizzled with simple syrup and honey. And as detected on the nose, wood is not in the forefront; there’s just a bit of toast and a few notes of char all wrapped in new leather.

Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
BOP7 is a sold pour. Each sip is creamy, yet can give the tongue and throat an occasional and unexpected tickle. After each taste, the wash falls back to the carrot colored pool in broken and unevenly spaced legs leaving behind only a few drops.

BLOOD OATH PACT 7 BOURBON FINISH:

Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon has a warm medium long, off dry and juicy light sherry flavored finish. Apples, red and green grapes and gourmet raisins dusted with allspice, ginger and rye mingle with sweet light vanilla. This is a dangerous bourbon as it is so easy to drink and enjoy. And as I finish the last dram, fruity oak wafts from the empty Glencairn.

MY RATING: 88/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Blood Oath Bourbon is now on my radar and I will be on the lookout for more.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Blood Oath.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon
Blood Oath Pact 7 Bourbon

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon Review:

reviewed on 09-November-2021

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON REVIEW:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon (ECBP C920) starts hot, both on the nose and palate. But once acclimated, one can get fruit, spice, sweet and wood. The bourbon is rich and oily and has one of the longest finishes I’ve experienced. This is another solid and well balanced barrel proof offering from Heaven Hill.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

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: 66.4% (132.8 Proof)
Availability: Tri-annual Limited Release
Release Date: September 2020
Batch number identifier: C920
▪”C” Third (last) release of the year
▪”9″ Released in September
▪”20″ Released in 2020
Price: $59.99 (2020-Idaho)
NABCA CSC #: 17917

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

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

The first one and a half ounces were taken out of the newly opened bottle and 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 enjoyed the bourbon neat for this review.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON NOSE:

The first waft of ECBP C920 is so full of potent ethanol, I altered my usually deep inhales. After several more intakes, my nose (and eyes) acclimated. Then came roasting corn, backed by a deep aroma of fermenting silage. While not unpleasant, the new scent is certainly unusual and one I have not encountered before in a bourbon. Continued nosing brings ripe berries, fresh apples, apricots, and maybe a bit of candied citrus. Spices of cinnamon, ginger, green pepper and rye balance the sweets of light vanilla, soft caramel corn, brown sugar, and toasted marshmallows along with a light drizzling of honey. While I do not pick up a lot of woodiness, I do sense pecans, light fresh cut oak and toasted wood which pairs nicely with the earthiness of crisp autumn leaves raked into piles.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON PALATE:

Even before the first sip of ECBP C920 nestles into its spot in the front of my palate, I am hit with the warm bite of cinnamon red hots. Then comes roasted corn hiding in tart berries, cooked apples, cherries, and grilled peaches. As on the nose, spices of cinnamon, ginger, black pepper and rye spar with bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, toasted marshmallows and dark honey … with some flakey pie crust and a touch of light molasses thrown in for complexity. The spice and sweets work together because they are in balance with flavors of light dry oak, earthy toasted wood and musty barrel char.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As the liquid settles in, I am surprised at how easy it is to hold in my mouth considering the proof. While ECBP C920 gives my tongue an aggressive tickle, I find it rich and oily. After each sip, a thick clinging curtain fades into the burnt amber colored pool leaving behind a broken ring of droplets. This is another solid and well balanced barrel proof offering from Heaven Hill.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 BOURBON FINISH:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon bites with an exceptionally long almost hot finish. There is a slight aftertaste of mown hay and a hint of bitter citrus. But while greatly diminished, the spices and sweets noted on the nose and taste buds pass to the finish. And when the last dram is downed, alcohol and a deep earthiness of freshly sawn oak can drawn 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 C920 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 132.41 (down from 132.8) but doesn’t take much away from the aroma, flavors or finish. There’s still alcohol – both on the nose and in the first sip. The corn, berries and apples still mix with cinnamon, ginger, pepper and rye and sweets of vanilla, soft caramel, and brown sugar. Best of all, they balance with the dry oak, earthy toasted wood and musty barrel char. But because two drops do not alter the pour, there is no reason to add them.

Adding four drops of water to 1.5 ounces of ECBP C920 lowers the proof to 132.03. The introduced water knocks down the alcohol hit on the nose and fades individual aromas and flavors. If four drops add anything, the whiskey becomes more caramelly and oaky but without the balancing fruit and spice components. It is still a fine pour and if I were given a watered down C920 without knowing what it was, I would be happy.

MY RATING: 93/100;
… with two drops 93/100;
… with four drops 91/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings are in a word, Amazing. I will buy more as I find them.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

Click 93/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Bourbon

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

Posted on by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

Original review written November 9, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A good, hot bourbon with fruity and spicy character that fight hard for the sipper’s attention. It’s a solid addition to the bunker collection. 89/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 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: 66.4% (132.8 proof)
– Price: $59.99 USD in Idaho (2020)

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

ECBP C920 is tumultuous like a stormy sky at a beach. The waters are wild, and the winds are brisk. You’re still outside, waiting for the brunt of the storm to hit, and everything already feels new and fresh. C920 will keep you warm while also giving you the confidence to say to the untamable waves, “Bring it on.”

Photo by Tabea Schimpf on Unsplash

NOSE:

This has the sweetness of crisp apples, and freshness of rye on the first inhale. There’s other sugars to go along with the apple, including graham crackers and light brown sugar. I also find corn, vanilla custard, orange sponge cake, all mixing with cinnamon and nutmeg. There’s even a marshmallow component that sneaks in and out of inhales. C920 is sweet, but also rich, and with plenty of depth. The oak is new, and it has an earthy nuttiness to it as well, like almonds. And for being over 130 proof, I’m surprised that the alcohol isn’t as aggressive as I anticipated. It’s certainly present, but it’s fiery in a cinnamon-y way, and it’s quite complementary to the rest of the profile of this nose. Overall, I’d say this is inviting and pleasantly original.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

– Mouth Feel: Oily. It’s juicy and rich – definitely a great property of this bourbon.
– Balance: Solid. I wouldn’t say mind-blowing, but everything is where it should be and makes for easy, contented sipping.
– Visual: Old oak in color, this leaves a distinct ring, while the rest of the bourbon falls quickly in sheets.

– Taste: I get cherries, cherry syrup, and cinnamon on the first sip in spades. The vanilla custard is still here from the nose, but there is also now some caramel to accompany it. I’ve lost the citrusy essence, but with the cherries and some other dark berry nectar, fruit still abounds. There’s a bit of dried fruit, like spicy currants and maybe blackberry fruit leather. The corn is stronger here on the palate as well, being roasted and giving off just a hint of a savory quality with its sweetness.

Don’t think this pour is strictly fruit though; the spice is certainly prevalent, and even sharp on some sips. There’s a new development of ginger to go along with the rye from the nose. It’s fresh, and the ginger adds a new textural component. The oak is there, but I wouldn’t say it’s particularly noticeable.

The alcohol is strong, but even still, I can let this sit on the tip of my tongue for some time without feeling pressured or strong burning. When I partake in a Kentucky chew, the ginger kicks up, as does the corn. It’s harsh, and since it eliminates the majority of the fruit essences, I don’t feel like it’s necessary to do another chew.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium-long. Not as long as I thought it might be, but I’m not unhappy about it.
– Between Sips: I think the ginger is the most pronounced between sips, but it still isn’t particularly strong. It merely stands out against all of the other potential flavors lingering. There’s also a bitter note that could be citrus zest, but it fades relatively quickly.

– No More: This is consistent as I go through the glass. It continues to be gently warming, and the ginger aftertaste hasn’t grown or diminished too much. I wish I had a bit more of a fruit presence, but I am still most certainly, pleased.

The empty Glencairn is vanilla and oak, and I do think it’s a good finish to a solid bourbon.

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 C920 to detect any potential differences:

The glass immediately smells of caramel apples with the addition of two drops. When I take a sip, I find the intensity of the caramel growing, and the alcohol is surprisingly mild. I can hold it on my palate and not even feel a burn for quite some time. With the caramel is vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and the tiniest bit of citrus zest. It’s refreshing with the two drops, but I’m not entirely convinced that it is more enjoyable this way rather than neat. But if you hesitate at the proof, two drops will certainly help without turning it into something poor.  (RATING: 88/100)

I find a sudden bit of tang on the nose with a new found oaky depth, and some sort of berry nectar. I can’t decide if I like this new smell. When I take a sip, I find that the mouth feel is now even oilier, and it makes the other flavors a bit harder to distinguish. There is still caramel; however, it seems much more woody now. The sweeter flavors are harder to find, leaving just behind the cinnamon and ginger, and now some rye as well. Overall, I think the four drops make this pour slightly on the bitter side, and I wouldn’t recommend it. I will say, that if I hadn’t known that this was ECBP C920 originally, maybe my opinion of it would be better. As such, it’s impossible to not have a calibration point where it’s easy to feel disappointed. (RATING: 86/100)

WORTH THE PRICE?

For a 130+ proof bourbon, $60 is always going to seem like a bargain to me. I don’t think this is my favorite installment of ECBP, but I am more than happy that there are more bottles of this in our bunker.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF C920 REVIEW RATING: 89/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 89/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

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