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:
– 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:
– 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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