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Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Barrel Proof

ECBP Batch # 3: Thick Maple

0 592

@VictorReview by @Victor

26th Dec 2013

0

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Barrel Proof
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    24
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    22
  • Overall
    92

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Within the last 6 months or so, Heaven Hill distillery has offered a special Barrel Proof version of the Elijah Craig 12 YO Bourbon. Twelve years is enough time for a bourbon to develop considerable alcohol content, and the three releases of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof I have seen thus far, at 67.1%, 68.5%, and 66.6% certainly qualify as being at a high intensity of concentration of flavours and alcohol. This review is of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, batch # 3, by my informal count, at 66.6% ABV. The reviewed bottle has been open for 5 weeks and is 95% full. I hope to do a review of the Batch # 2 at 68.5% ABV someday when I later open a bottle of it

Colour: it would take a wet dream to get a Scotch this colour

Mouthfeel: very thick and chewy

Nose: heavy thick sweet maple, not unlike some of the best Canadian whiskies, e.g. Danfield's 21 YO; vanilla and natural caramel from the wood; some floral elements of carnation and rose; spice which is potent, but not as strong as the wood flavours; rich and full-bodied

Taste: strong and very pointed flavours in the mouth, both the wood flavours and the rye spice flavours. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 66.6% is very thick and syrupy, like a thick reduction of maple syrup. This is quite sweet, with a balance from the sour, as is typical of American whiskeys. The baking spices from rye grain of cloves, nutmeg, cassia/cinnamon are quite strong on the palate. This is a VERY BIG WHISKEY

Finish: those flavours will just linger on your tongue for a very very long time

Balance: these have to be the top notch barrels selected for Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. New wood flavours are the dominant element here, and this batch definitely goes to the sweet side, but there is nothing cloying or offensive about it. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a very big bourbon experience, and I highly recommend it. US suggested retail at $ 39.99 is almost too good to be true. There is no other bourbon available in the US or elsewhere at over 65% ABV sold for any price close to this. May Heaven Hill expand production and distribution of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and maintain this incredible price for it. At this quality and at this price, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof will be a very worthy competitor to Booker's Small Batch Bourbon, by Jim Beam

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5 comments

@PeatyZealot
PeatyZealot commented

Seems to be pretty unavailable here in Western Europe :(

10 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@PeatyZealot, yes, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is still hard to get even in the U.S. My hope is that Heaven Hill ramps up supply... it has not happened yet. What bottles do show up disappear in a hurry, so it must be selling very well.

10 years ago 0

@Onibubba
Onibubba commented

I got to try this at Hard Water, a nice whiskey bar in San Francisco. You are spot on about the color - Jeepers Creepers, it's dark. I have been looking for a bottle in TN/KY. No luck yet. Will be sure to pounce on the next release!

10 years ago 0

Taco commented

Wow! I'm a scotch guy and this is great stuff! Very nice nose and very good palate and finish! I paid $30 and I'm going back tomorrow to see if I can get another bottle (there was only one left yesterday). It edges out Wild Turkey Rare Breed, which I really like. Buy if you can find!

10 years ago 0

@Nock
Nock commented

I have purposefully not read your review until I finished my own for this batch (thanks again for the sample). I am delighted to see that I also picked up on the heavy maple influence on the nose and all the spices on the taste and finish. And I am even more surprised and delighted to see that we agree on the score. I will be very interested to read your take on batch 2 . . . whenever you open it. My guess is that you will not like it quite as much as this batch.

10 years ago 0