Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrel Proof Review Archives – Page 4 of 4

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

Posted on 30-November-201928-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 Review

written on 19-October-2019

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B518 REVIEW:
The high proof of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP) B518 is definitely noticeable, but manageable as it carries blended flavors through rather than hiding them.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B518 VITAL STATS:
– 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: 66.7% (133.4 Proof)
– Price $59.99 USD in Idaho
– Availability: Tri-annual Limited Release

Learn more at https://heavenhill.com/

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

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

NOSE:
The enjoyable bourbon aroma of rich buttery caramel wafts over heavy oak infused vanilla. There is a faint aire of caramelized apple pastry present as well. The high proof is nicely subdued.

PALATE:
The caramel and vanilla sensed on the nose is there, but only on the fringes. The tongue picks up intense cinnamon and a great deal of woodiness which fades to sweet and rich graham cracker pie crust. There is a fair amount of dry bourbon burn owing to the high proof which tends to mask more subtle flavours.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
The high proof of this bourbon presents a full mouthfeel which nicely cuts the sweetness. The warming sensation on the tongue and throat helps merge the flavors together. Be forewarned: holding this bourbon in the mouth for more than a few seconds deadens the sweetness and flavours.

FINISH:
ECBP B518 finishes with heat and a bold brown sugar sweetness, light vanilla and a heady woodiness. While the finish is long and warm, considering the proof, this bourbon has much less burn than one might expect.

COMPARISON NOTES:
During the Christmas Break of 2018, Hannah and I conducted a tasting experiment with three itterations of Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrel Proof bourbons: C917, A118, and the B518 – all fine bourbons on their own. For my senses, B518 was between the better A118, with C917 coming a close third.

MY RATING: 89/100
Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 Review

Posted on 29-November-201928-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 Review

written on 31-August-2018, updated December 2018

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF A118 REVIEW:

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 (ECBP A118) is bottled at 130.6 Proof, and is not for the faint of heart. But for those who are willing, the reward is a mature flavorful treat. Released in January, batch A118 was the first ECBP bottling of 2018.

ECBP A118 is a strong, sweet, high proof and flavorful bourbon. At $60 bottle (USD), it is well worth the purchase … if one is into big oak, sweetness and high proof. Recommendation: Find yourself a bottle.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF A118 VITAL STATS:

Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Heaven Hill
Classification: Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye & 12% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 12 Years
ABV: 65.3% ABV (130.6 Proof)
Non-Chill Filtered
Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho

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

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I drank this spirit neat, from a Glencairn glass.

ECBP A118 NOSE:

I let this sit about 10 min before bringing it to my nose; the alcohol is there, but not as prevalent as one might expect. The initial blast of fresh buttery oak richness was followed by a great deal of sweetness. The caramel, brown sugar, butterscotch and vanilla are well blended with cinnamon and baking spices.

ECBP A118 PALATE:

Bourbon heat is there but it fades fairly quickly and is followed by rich, buttery caramel sweetness. Pleasant fresh cut oakiness gives way to deep pepper-like notes with lots of vanilla and a hint of mellow stone fruitiness.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
As of this posting, ECBP A118 is one of my my all-time favorite bourbons, and I will be sad when the last dram fades away. While there is plenty of bourbon heat, the old oak colored nectar is buttery and rich with a noticeably creamy mouthfeel.

ECBP A118 FINISH:

For a high proof bourbon the finish of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A118 is smooth; there is the expected bite and general warmness but little burn. The finish dissipates fairly fast, leaving a memory of rich blended woody caramel sweetness which readies the mouth for the next sip.

COMPARISON NOTES:

During the Christmas Break of 2018, we held a tasting event with three iterations of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbons: C917, A118, and B518 – all fine bourbons on their own. For my senses, ECBP A118 reigned supreme, followed by B518 with C917 coming in a close third.

ECBP A118 RATING: 93/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
While this ECBP batch is no longer in production, if seen on the shelf, take it or any of the barrel proof Elijah Craig offerings home.
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C917 Review

Posted on 21-November-201928-June-2022 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C917 Review

Original review written on October 6, 2019

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

One of my favorites of the limited releases from Elijah Craig. I am sad to report that it has poured its last Glencairn. Wet met, my friend. Would buy again IF ever found. 92/100

VITALS:

– Made in: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Heaven Hill Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Small Batch; Barrel Proof
– Age: 12 yrs.
– Mash Bill: Corn=78%; Malted Barley=12%; Rye=10%
– Casks: Barrel char #3
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 65.5% (131 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 could very well be enjoyed at the end of a rodeo, mixed with all of the adrenaline, warmth, and excitement you’d find under the bright stadium lights surrounded by loud cheering.

Photo by Gilles Rolland-Monnet on Unsplash

NOSE:

The first whiff is surprisingly not an overbearing alcohol, despite this bourbon being such a high proof. But don’t get over-confident; you could get hurt. A very yeasty, dark bread greets the nose with lighter fruits sitting just behind. A deeper, cautious inhale allows graham crackers, brown sugar, and oak to emerge.

PALATE:

– Mouth feel: Full and rich – crazy warm
– Balance: Complex
– Visual: Mahogany in color with a clinging circle of crown. The legs are quick to run off.

– Taste: While negotiable on the nose, the alcohol demands to be acknowledged and respected. The oak, somewhat sweet in taste, blooms after a moment and is incredibly warming. Cloves and other savory spices manage to somehow both be subtle on the palate as well as sinus-clearing.

Other leathery tones make you want to bite down hard for Kentucky chew. And a warm, salted-caramel can be found if you really dedicate yourself to that Kentucky chew risk.

This doesn’t coax a lot of fruit, but if you squint, a green grape may make a cameo appearance for a second.

The overall warmth of this is really overpowering, but boy is it enjoyable.

FINISH:

– Lasting power: Very long and you get more depth and feel as you go. The warmth settles deep in the chest and radiates up and through the body. What a happy feel.

– No More: Spicy oak permeates the empty glass and gives you all the warmth you could ever look for. One feels as though they want to find a C917 stave to snuggle into.

COMPARISON NOTES:

I experimented with this bourbon a bit, pitting it up against other tri-annual iterations of Barrel Proof batches: A118 and B518. I found this one to be my favorite.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Yes

RATING: 92/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

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