Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Review Archives

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Review

Posted on 03-January-202228-June-2022 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:

– 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:

– 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

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

Back to …

Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C921 Review

Posted on 05-December-202128-June-2022 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:

– 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:

– 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

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 78/100 to access other whiskeys with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Elijah Craig.

Back to…

Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920 Review

Posted on 14-November-202128-June-2022 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:

– 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:

– 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.

Back to…

Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews