Elijah Craig Review Archives – Page 3 of 5

Elijah Craig Small Batch Private Barrel – ISLD Batch 2, 2019 Bourbon Review

Posted on 10-May-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

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.}

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ELIJAH CRAIG SB PRIVATE BARREL – ISLD BATCH #2, 2019 TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 Review

Posted on 01-March-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 Review

Original review written February 23, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Though the mouth feel didn’t quite impress me, I think all of the flavors make for an interesting and unique profile, and I could see myself reaching for this again. 88/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Barrel Proof; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Rye=10; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Non-chill filtered
– ABV: 61.8% (123.6 proof)
– Price: $59.99 USD in Idaho

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This fits in well in a rose garden setting, with the thorns perhaps being in a higher concentration than the blossoms themselves. The sky could be a little gray, and the atmosphere is a little humid, but it’s peaceful nonetheless. A121 keeps the intrigue alive without being too pushy or aggressive.

Photo by Yousef Espanioly on Unsplash

NOSE:

This nose certainly has the dark depth of an ECBP without question. Dark brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and white pepper burst from the glass first, with accompanying oak being old and deep. The alcohol isn’t particularly pungent here, or at least it’s less intense than I would imagine anything above 120 proof to be. Deep draws coax out earth and corn, but again, the scent is very rich and warm. There is also a bit of seasoned leather, figs, and prunes that blend well with the other aromas that work together to make an overall, very exciting invitation.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: I find this a little watery, to be honest. Once it moves around the palate, it graduates to an oily feel, but as it touches the tip of the tongue and the lips, it feels very light and thin.
– Balance: Decent. Nothing sticks out awkwardly, aside from a slight bitterness, but it’s still enjoyable.
– Visual: Flame in color, there is a clinging droplet crown and long, clinging legs.

– Taste: Grapes, oak, fruit leather, and corn are the first things I notice to cross my palate. The corn seems present, but it is bland and turns a bit more vegetable-y. In a way, though whiskey is a liquid, this almost has a crunch to it and strangely reminds me of water chestnuts. Black pepper and ginger kick in as well, along with a bitterness at the back of the tongue, almost like a bitter walnut. There is a floral element here also, and perhaps it is also contributing to the bitterness that I am finding. If I had to venture a guess, I would say that it’s rosy.

The alcohol is hot, but it isn’t something that really scares me much. In fact, I think with the mouth feel, it almost seems tame. When I do a Kentucky Chew, however, the alcohol strengthens into a black pepper/cinnamon haze with a touch of cherry and that rosy walnut bitterness.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Actually quite short. The alcohol futilely kicks a little, but not much. And the flavors just linger softly.
– Between Sips: Fruit leather, rose, and a light oak sit between sips, and make for a little bitter aftertaste, but it’s not unpleasant.

– No More: I think the oaky woodiness gets stronger the further into the glass I get, while any of the sweet notes I had noted earlier seem to dissipate. The bitterness kicks up as well, and while it does not taste bad, I do wish there was a bit more variety.

The empty Glencairn is a sweet oak with a bit of white pepper spice that is refreshing and stinging. It would have been interesting to see these flavors in the glass and pour itself, but it is nice, I suppose, to get a glimpse of what could have been here.

THE ADDITION OF WATER

– This section written on February 26, 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 A121 to detect any potential differences:

A tangy fruit leather comes out, and immediately I know that I enjoy this bourbon more with the addition of two drops rather than neat. The ginger also is stronger along with dark brown sugar. It’s far less bitter than it was when I first sampled this, and overall, it is sweeter as well. I also find some herbal tones to this, which improves its complexity for me. (RATING: 89/100)

With four drops, it’s as though the heat has actually been kicked up! There is a hint more of black pepper, and now the introduction of a dark fruit. Perhaps it is figs. Again, like with the two drops, there is little to no bitterness that was found in the neat pour. However, unlike the two drop pour, the grassiness fades, replaced predominantly by sweetness and the touch of spice. (RATING: 93/100)

WORTH THE PRICE?

As far as Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs go, I’d say there are better offerings that I’ve had, but this one is still entertaining, and for $60, I think it’s a fair price. I can see how this could be very enjoyable as it’s very unique and original. For me, adding water definitely improved it and I am certainly more willing to go for another glass later. Would I buy it again? I think so.

OVERALL RATING: 88/100

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review

Posted on 01-February-202128-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review

Original review written January 30, 2021

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 Review: A really well blended bourbon, and while the nose doesn’t perfectly match the palate, the taste is so solid and warm and fantastic. Definitely recommend. 95/100

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 VITALS:

– 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
– Non-chill filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 63.6% (127.2 proof)
– Price: $69.99 USD in Wisconsin

For more information, visit heavenhill.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 SETTING:

With the insane warmth of this one, I imagine enjoying this offering in a field of sunflowers. The sun rises and the flowers still don’t know quite where to turn as they wake up. The air is crisp with the last of night’s chill lingering, but the warmth of B520 makes the sun and the colors pop even more amidst the sweet-smelling field.

Photo by Timothy Eberly on Unsplash

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 NOSE:

This smells instantly oily and viscous, and while I know those are not things that one should be able to smell, I feel as though I can anyways. There’s just something slippery that is there instantly, along with something flowery and apple-y. I can also detect ripe white peaches with cinnamon or brown sugar dusted over the top and a vanilla custard with it (though not densely sweet custard). For being over 125 proof, the nose is unaggressive, and I find that I can take deep draws without it affecting me too much. Those deeper draws coax out a sweet oak, a summer flower, and a light maple syrup. Overall, very impressive.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Viscous for sure, but there is a mouth-watering tickle here also that keeps me going back for sip after sip.
– Balance: The flavors are all so perfectly well-blended here, it’s very challenging to pull them apart, but they come together in such a cohesive manner to create such a solid taste! I can’t even be frustrated with not getting many individual flavors here.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, there are long, clinging legs that eventually thin out to stay as clinging droplets.

– Taste: The first sip is instant warmth that doesn’t burn at the tongue, but certainly tickles on the way down. The fruits are still there on the palate, but I’d almost be tempted to say that they were berry-esque, rather than the brighter fruits of the nose. If I had to pick, I’d say blackberry. There’s a fruity acidity here too, whether that be a citrus (undefined), or perhaps a tart pink lady apple, it’s hard to be sure.

The cinnamon has kicked up in intensity on the palate also, and the vanilla seems darker also. I still wouldn’t define this pour as being particularly sweet, as the heat does keep coming back for second passes, but it has the Elijah Craig essence of richness in its fruits and sharpness in its warmth. Don’t think I mean alcohol burn when I say this, rather just a bourbon warmth (though I do suspect this could give a painful Kentucky Hug).

The oak is stronger on the palate also, along with the char of the barrel. It’s almost as though this pour came directly from charred wood, and I admit, I do quite like that.

A Kentucky chew brings out the heatwaves along with a punch of vanilla and brown sugar. The fruity acidity turns into almost a bitterness and lingers for a second before these other flavors take over the sensation and taste.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Very long. I can feel the heat absolutely everywhere and it sticks around long after the sip has come and gone.
– Between Sips: Apples (not particularly bitter or tart) occupy the space between sips, along with that classic Elijah Craig warmth. The flavor dissipates quite quickly, I do admit.

– No More: This keeps wanting to bite me the more I get into the glass, but the game of cat and mouse with a blend this solid is very enjoyable and entertaining. No new noticeable flavors to emerge.

The empty Glencairn smells very warm and very similar to the empty Glencairn of Batch B518, with plenty of oak, richness, and certainly age.

IS ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 WORTH THE PRICE?

We usually get ECBP bottlings ten dollars cheaper at around $60, as opposed to this time around when we paid $70 (Idaho did not have a large B520 allocation at the time of purchase). That being said, this bottle, to me, may be the best ECBP offering that I have tried, even exceeding Batch C917, and as such, I think it is worth every penny of $70 easily.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B520 RATING: 95/100

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