Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Barrel Proof
ECBP Batch # 7, 64.0 % ABV
0 1391
Review by @Victor
- Nose25
- Taste23
- Finish21
- Balance22
- Overall91
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Distribution of ratings for this:
- Brand: Elijah Craig
- Type: American
- ABV: 64%
The reviewed sample is from the 7th release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and is compliments of @Nock. The bottle was opened 4 months ago and is half full
Nose: intense sweet oak and maple flavours are the first thing you experience. There is plenty of natural caramel and vanilla, as you would expect from any 12 year old bourbon. This batch has a beautiful floral note of rose tucked under all of those woody flavours, and also an interesting and pleasant sassafras/root beer note. Spice flavours from both rye and wood are present and noticeable, and combine with the other flavours in a seamless fabric. The balance here is excellent. This is an outstanding bourbon nose
Taste: this is a little bit more astringent in the mouth than I expected from the nose, with wood tannins showing more strongly than in the nose. The palate is still quite delicious, though, with the wood flavours commanding most of the attention
Finish: moves dry, tannic, and astringent
Balance: fabulous in the nose, very good on the palate, fair on the finish. I could nose this bourbon for an hour, because the nose is that good
Water added: 1) raises the sweetness pitch to that of confectioner's sugar, but otherwise blends and obscures the nose flavours, 2) dilutes, confounds, and homogenises the palate, and 3) sweetens and dilutes the finish. The nose with water is interesting, but otherwise I would recommend avoiding the addition of water to this whiskey
Heaven Hill does not give batch numbers; these batch numbers are all from an informal count by those of us who follow Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. This Batch # 7 is the lowest proof batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof yet released, though 64% ABV is certainly an adequate drinking strength. Batch # 7 is a very solid, representative batch of ECBP. It is not the most lush, nor the most intense, though it might well have the best nose
Strength: a mixed bag here. The nose is very strong and balanced. The palate is a little more restrained and delicate, especially by Elijah Craig Barrel Proof standards. The finish has intensity of flavour, but the sweet elements drop off too quickly. Score 23/25 pts
Quality: very good quality of flavours throughout. Score: 23/25 pts
Variety: fabulous variety in the nose, very good variety on the palate, and good variety on the finish. Score: 23/25 pts
Harmony: first rate in the nose, very good on the palate, only fair on the finish. Score: 22/25 pts
Total non-sequential score: 91/100 points
Comment: the reviews I write are "Critic's Reviews". This means I score/grade on specific criteria, and not on 'how much I enjoyed drinking the whisky'. I bring this up because there are whiskies which I have scored lower, but enjoyed drinking more, than, for example, this Batch # 7 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, 12 YO. I scored Old Grand-Dad 114 at 87, then, later, 88 points, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch # 6 at 90 points. If you asked me which among these three I would prefer for a good time drink, both the OGD114 and the Batch # 6 would be my overwhelming preferences. This takes nothing away from ECBP Batch # 7, which is a great bourbon, with an outstanding nose. All I can say is, "No cabinet should be without Old Grand-Dad 114".
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@Victor another stellar on point review, thx.
What Heaven Hill is doing with EC12BP is something special! Elijah Craig 12y Barrel Proof has moved to the top of my bourbon purchases this year, I've bought 4 bottles of Batch 8, 69.9 ABV. I know some batches Are better than others, if someone has the opportunity to buy one get it, regardless of batch.
I hardly ever add water to whiskey but this one has to have water added. This bourbon opens amazingly with water.