Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Review

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Review

Original review written on September 21, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A good blend, unique flavors, an enjoyable pour, and another good offering from Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Is it worth $70 USD though? I’m not entirely sure, to be honest. 88/100

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 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
– Non-chill filtered
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125 proof
– ABV: 59.1% (118.2 proof)
– Price: $69.99 USD in Idaho

For more information, visit heavenhill.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I imagine ECBP Batch B521 could very easily be enjoyed in an Italian restaurant. The sounds and rich smells, tastes, and colors pair well with this bourbon and would be sure to go well with any delicious pasta or oil for bread. Make sure you don’t hesitate to get another pour!

Photo by Des Récits on Unsplash

NOSE:

Black pepper, allspice, and cherries bloom from the glass on the first inhales. Other dark fruits, like plums and raisins are present, along with syrupy sweetness like honey still in the honeycomb, caramel, and dark vanilla. The oak is rich and sweet and certainly plays a large role in marrying all of the aforementioned flavors together. There is a hint of a nutty earthiness at the tail end of the inhale, but I wouldn’t be able to hazard a guess as to which nut it is. The alcohol is surprisingly mild for a proof this high, but it can bite if you are not careful all the same.

I usually find most Elijah Craig noses to be solely spicy, and while this does somewhat match that assumption, there is so much more complexity with fruit than I anticipated. I am very much looking forward to this glass.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Review

– Mouth Feel: At the tip of the tongue, this is mellow; however, it becomes quite textured at the back of the palate.
– Balance: Solid balance. It’s complex and rich in spices and unique flavors that all come together to be surprisingly cohesive.
– Visual: Terracotta in color, a defined crown emerges, though there are few legs or droplets that cling.

– Taste: I’m surprised already by how long I can hold this at the tip of my tongue without getting an alcohol burn. Despite the minimal burn, spice still comes across the strongest on the palate, black pepper and even red peppercorns being the predominant flavors. And they are dominant enough that they even aggravate the back and roof of the palate slightly.

I get a bit of the caramel (now burnt) from the nose, as well as sudden black licorice (mild I promise), and a crispness of water chestnuts. The water chestnuts seem peculiar with these flavors, but note that it is less of a flavor and more of a sensation of crispness. Other sweetness comes from a honey glaze and a bittersweet floral element, like rose.

The oakiness of B521 is almost raw in its woodiness – completely unprocessed, and as if it is just chopped. Nevertheless, it isn’t a particularly strong flavor and sits as a background flavor more than anything. The alcohol, as stated, is still mild at the front of the palate and raspy at the back. However, when I do a Kentucky chew, the oak and black pepper become even stronger – the pepper sending needles into the tongue with the alcohol. It’s also after this chew that I realize this has a very strong potential to give a Kentucky hug as well. As such, this bourbon definitely warrants caution, despite not being overtly aggressively with its initial burn.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. The heat stays at the back of the palate and leaves also a lasting impression of flavor.
– Between Sips: Oak is the strongest here, and in fact, there really isn’t another strong flavor accompanying it. It’s solid oak, but not old, rather quite new.

– No More: This becomes slightly more mellow throughout the glass, I am finding. The oak is present, but many of the other flavors are now very subdued and they blend together well.

The empty Glencairn is a sweet, caramelly oak, which is different from the usual empty Glencairn I enjoy. Nevertheless, this smells great and every bit of delicious.

WORTH THE PRICE?

If you like Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs, you already know that you’re adding B521 to your collection. At $70, ECBP lovers are going to grab this regardless, just to say they’ve tried it (me!). But if you are looking for the best representation of ECBP, I’m not entirely sure you’ll find it with Batch B521. This is a very good bourbon, don’t misunderstand me. I like it, and I will enjoy it again when I have another pour. But if you are pinching pennies, I might wait for another iteration of ECBP, which come three times a year. However, if you love uniqueness, and general bourbon warmth (something I can arguably find in less expensive bottles), you won’t be disappointed grabbing this one.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF B521 REVIEW RATING: 88/100

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Elijah Craig Small Batch 2019 Idaho Batch #2 Review

Hannah’s Elijah Craig Small Batch 2019 Idaho Batch #2 Review

Original review written May 4, 2021

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

If you like wood-forward and grain in your bourbon, Idaho Batch #2 would be great for a collection. It’s a little bland otherwise, but it’s still palatable.

VITALS:
Elijah Craig Small Batch 2019 Idaho Batch #2 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 proof
– Barrel Serial Number: #25164391
– Warehouse: KK-4 (Schenley)
– Vintage Year: 2007
– ABV: 47% (94 proof)
– Price: $29.95 USD in Idaho (2019)

Visit heavenhill.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

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

Check out his review of this bourbon here!

SETTING:

I feel like this bourbon invites contemplation. Sit on the step of a stairwell, leaning against the railing in utter quiet, and let the simplicity of Batch #2 surround you in your peace.

Photo by Serhat Beyazkaya on Unsplash

NOSE:

I get a caramelly, fruit bouquet on the first inhale, with figs and prunes being particularly pronounced. There is also a dash of black pepper that makes for a bit of spice and heat, while there is a strong element of dusty and roasted corn too. Deep inhales coax out a deep vanilla, a pastry and perhaps some pecans, though they are subtle. I wouldn’t rule out other nuts either, though I’d say they were soft. It’s even possible that it could be a brown butter that is contributing to the nuttiness.

Batch #2 is quite complex, and the alcohol seems a bit more intense than just a simple 94 proof. It’s welcoming and warm, and certainly very Heaven Hill-esque.

PALATE:
Elijah Craig Small Batch 2019 Idaho Batch #2 Review

– Mouth Feel: Silky, but also slightly watery. It’s not bad, but it’s not great either.
– Balance: It’s a wood and grain forward bourbon, and while I’d like a bit of spice or fruit to back it up, I wouldn’t say it’s unbalanced. … just a little one-hit-wonder.
– Visual: Honey in color, there are long, fat legs that drop into the pool quickly, but the trails linger for some time.

– Taste: Grain comes across the palate first, and not just in a corn variety, but also in a just plain grassy way. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it is surprising given that there was such an abundance of sweet flavors on the nose. The fruit is here, but it seems light and not like the figs originally found. In fact, it seems more like green grapes now. The vanilla and pastry are gone, now replaced by a simple syrup instead. An argument could be made for a white breadiness, but it’s not sweet at all – rather more chewable.

I will say, there is significantly more wood here than there was on the nose. The oak is soft and yet still forward, mixing with a sprinkling of white pepper. The white pepper isn’t hot, and the bourbon doesn’t bite. A Kentucky chew makes the grass and grain more raw in flavor, but there is a sudden, quick burst of cherry here. It disappears quite quickly though.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Medium. I’m not convinced the warmth lingers very strongly, but the aftertaste does stick around for a while.
– Between Sips: There is a distinct taste of white bread between sips and some more of that grain. It does seem a little flat and one-dimensional, but it isn’t bad.

– No More: It does get a little sweeter the further into the glass I get, but it still isn’t anything that makes me extra excited. I think the sweetness is still coming from the bread, and maybe that’s why… fine, but not great overall.

The empty Glencairn is full of sawdust and is very warm and rich. It’s a shame that the taste couldn’t have more of this edgy wood quality to it. But it’s a solid bourbon, if not perhaps a little boring.

WORTH THE PRICE?

At $30, I don’t think we were robbed by any means. This bourbon, as it is a state pick (and one from two years ago, I must add), is exceedingly rare. But I don’t think I’d pay much more than $30 for this offering. It’s decent, but I’ve enjoyed other $30 bourbons and even ryes a bit more than this one.

ELIJAH CRAIG SMALL BATCH 2019 IDAHO BATCH #2 REVIEW ATING: 84/100

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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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