Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

Original review written March 10, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review: A bourbon I hadn’t had in a while, I forgot how much I enjoy this, with spiciness and baking sweets consistently making me excited for the next sip. 90/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

– Made: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=75%; Rye=13%; Malted Barley=12%
– Casks: undisclosed char
– Barrel Entry Proof: undisclosed
– ABV: 66.7% (133.4 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

This bourbon makes me want to visit the salt flats in the Andes Mountain Range – light and free, but simultaneously deep and rich. The air is cool, but charged and the world’s wonders seem impossible to contemplate in such a pure atmosphere.

Photo by Christopher Crouzet on Unsplash

NOSE:

I’m met with a velvety soft, sugary warmth that screams bourbon right off the bat. Gentle caramel and black pepper combine with a roasted corn-on-the-cob element, with the alcohol surprisingly not being too aggressive.

There’s a little bit of maybe grapefruit, but it’s barely there, and I struggle to sense any other fruits. I can pull brown sugar, graham crackers, maple and perhaps vanilla taffy. Oak is here too, but I’d say that it’s a bit masked by all of these baking-esque flavors.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

– Mouth Feel: This is very oily and viscous, perhaps among the most oily bourbons I have ever tasted, which is certainly impressive.
– Balance: Only the slightest bit heavy on salt. Otherwise, this is a solid blend.
– Visual: Burnt amber in color, and the numerous thick legs drop pretty quickly.

– Taste: The alcohol hits hard initially; however, it is quickly overtaken by a grassy sensation that then melts into cherries. The grassy aspect has a black pepper influence to it that makes it interesting.

I find rye, both as a raw grain and also as a yeasty bread that could have some dried fruits (fig?) embedded in it. In this sense, B518 seems quite hardy and something I’d like to munch on.

I get a nuttiness as well, maybe like cashews – salted at that, as there is a mouth-watering component here akin to how I’d feel after eating some potato chips (obviously just the sensation – not the flavor).

The cherries have not faded, and they mix well with fresh cut oak still retaining its moisture.

As for baking sweets mentioned from the nose, I can taste mostly just light maple syrup and brown sugar. The vanilla and caramel are a bit more subdued now, but nevertheless, these flavors make for an enjoyable pour!

A Kentucky chew kicks the black pepper and saltiness into high gear, which solidifies the aged and intense character of this bourbon.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Definitely long, with the spices and warmth both contributing to a lingering sensation in my mouth and chest. It CAN come back unexpectedly to give you an unwanted and powerful Kentucky hug, so be careful!
– Between Sips: Saltiness, cherries, oak and black pepper wait at the end of each sip, and I have nothing to complain about.

– No More: The bourbon becomes a solid warmth with only hints of spices and cherry flavors the further into the glass I get. It could be more flavorful, I suppose, but I never mind a traditional feel-good bourbon warmth.

The empty Glencairn is an unassuming oak that is aged and full of warmth and with a story all of its own to tell.

COMPARISON NOTES:

I experimented with this bourbon a bit, and pit it up against other tri-annual iterations of Barrel Proof batches: A118 and C917. B518 was my second favorite, with C917 being my favorite of the three.

WORTH THE PRICE?

I think that $60 is a fair price for this bourbon, but I’m hesitant to say that it is worth being priced much higher. It may be difficult to find now (2020); however, if you are able to find it, I do recommend the purchase.

RATING: 90/100

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review

Original review written February 18, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Another solid Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Note that the ABV is quite high; I’d only recommend this to skilled whiskey drinkers. And I would recommend. Read my Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review here! 92/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Malted Barley=12; Rye=10%
– Casks: Char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Non-Chill Filtered
– ABV: 67.6% (135.2 proof)
– Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here

SETTING:

On a cool day, curl up on a big and cozy leather sofa with a blanket and a glass of A119. This glass is a picture of comfort and warmth, perfect for autumn. Don’t forget to turn on a little jazz to enjoy your pour.

Photo by Timothy L Brock on Unsplash

NOSE:

The rich and deep oak is very apparent along with assorted grains. I find plums here too, which mixes with both black and white pepper. I get powdered ginger that couples specifically with apples. There is a dark vanilla also that matches with a leathery essence, giving this nose some grip.

A woody caramel somehow takes all of these flavor teams and combines them into a warm and exciting profile.

While the alcohol burn is prominent, it isn’t as overbearing as one might think.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review

– Mouth Feel: Very big and oily, full of texture.
– Balance: Not too many flavors here when enjoying it neat, but the balance is still solid.
– Visual: This is old oak in color, and has long legs clinging to the sides of the glass; however, there is no crown.

– Taste: Naturally, the alcohol is very strong, so take note. This is typical of Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs – be cautious.

Even though the alcohol is forward, plenty of other flavors are discernible. Dark vanilla custard and fruit blossoms keep the juice sweet, making the black pepper and rye that knock the sweetness back exciting and enjoyable.

Continuing to sip, I find caramel red and golden delicious apples and cherries, which is a very pleasing flavor combo.

The oak is still a strong presence in the sip as well, especially the char, which makes the whole sip have a natural chew and texture to it.

A Kentucky chew highlights a cinnamon component enough to be the dominant and only distinguishable flavor/sensation. (It should go without saying that the burn is strong.)

Overall, there are not an abundance of flavors on the taste. The ones that are here though work very well together, and I am very happy with the offering.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: This one definitely has a very long finish; the warmth settles in absolutely everywhere. It can also certainly give you a tight Kentucky hug if you’re not careful, so again, be careful!
– Between Sips: Chocolate surprisingly sits at the back of the tongue between sips, along with some cherries. It’s quite nice, and I’m happy to pause and enjoy each sip to its fullest.

– No More: As I progress into the glass, I find mostly just a bourbon warmth that overtakes the fruitier flavors, but it’s still very enjoyable.

The empty Glencairn remains spicy, but the oak nevertheless dominates, leaving only a happy warmth in my chest.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Given the heat and the seasonal release, it may not be for everyone, and there will always be another opportunity to experience Elijah Craig seasonal releases. It just might not be A119. Personally, I enjoy this bottle a great deal, and I’d be willing to buy it again. If you’re a collector of the Barrel Proof releases, this one is certain to make a great addition and it comes with my recommendation!

RATING: 92/100

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review

written on 02-April-2019

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF A119 REVIEW:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 (ECBP A119) is the first ECBP release of 2019 and proved to be a difficult bourbon for me to assess; I nearly consumed the entire bottle over multiple sessions in the preparation of this review.  Those who read my other posts know I delight in enjoying my whiskey neat, whatever the proof.  Not so for the 135 proof ECBP A119.  For my taste, I found this bourbon needs quite a lot of water for it to be appreciated.

ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH PROOF A119 VITAL STATS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Review

– Category: Small Batch Barrel Proof
– Region: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
– Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery
– Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
– Barrel Char: #3
Non-chill filtered
– Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: nas
– ABV: 67.6% (135.2 Proof)
– Price $59.99 USD in Idaho
– Availability: Tri-annual Limited

https://heavenhill.com/

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass with daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

When I first sipped ECBP A119 neat I was underwhelmed.  Then, as suggested by other reviewers on the web, distilled water to the three ounce dram. (I stopped at eight drops.) Water dramatically improves this bourbon, bringing out many more elusive and hidden flavours.

NOSE:

NEAT:  When brought to the nose, ECBP A119 is quite dry and the liquid offers a little alcohol burn.  I detected faint and light fruit floral notes, along with dark cherries and sensations of fresh citrus.  Its sweetness comes from simple syrup and fresh orange blossoms on the wind and ECBP A119 seems well blended.
WITH WATER:  The alcohol I sensed while nosed neat is replaced with subtle hints of banana and fresh, plump gourmet raisins.  Water also brings out a subtle molasses sweetness which combines its spiciness with a hint of milk chocolate and a musky charred oak aroma.

PALATE:

NEAT:  ECBP A119 is bone-dry, harsh, hot, and strong.  The red berries I detected on the nose are overpowered by black pepper and rye spice.  Even so, there are a few buttery sugar and orange blossom honey notes which combine with earthy leather and fresh light and dry oak barrel spiciness.
WITH WATER:  Water improves ECBP A119’s taste, and therefore makes this juice less dry, more warming and sweet, and a touch rye forward.  The subtle dark fruit detected on the nose transfers to the tongue, and the element of light molasses is added.  Water also accentuates ECBP A119’s earthy and woody barrel char dramatically smoothing its ‘neat’ harshness.

Balance, Body, Look and Feel:
NEAT:  ECBP A119 is a balanced bourbon and when neat, its individual flavours are hard to detect.  It seems to lack the depth of previous ECBP iterations.  Its colour suggests time in the barrel. In the Glencairn, the liquid offers the viewer an upside-down, crown of clinging droplets, which as the dram is consumed, fall into long full legs.
WITH WATER:  ECBP A119 becomes surprisingly smooth and much more complex with added water, but don’t misunderstand … its flavours are still subtle and the strong spiciness is still there.

FINISH:

NEAT:  ECBP A119’s finish is long and dry with an ever so faint hint of sweet.  It is big, with a harsh rye spice burn and a chew of dried fruit leather, which leaves a lingering aftertaste.
WITH WATER: ECBP A119’s harshness and aftertaste are replaced with an enjoyable sweetness and a tickle on the tongue and as a result of the added water, makes the lingering finish oaky and much more pleasing.

MY RATING: 86/100; (89/100 with water)

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.

When enjoyed NEAT, click 86/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

If there was a “With Water” rating, I would increase the score to 89 … click 89/100 to see whiskies at this tier.

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