Elijah Craig 12 Year

12-Year Side-by-Side Showdown So, I posted this the other night, and only one person guessed my ranking. Here are my notes as promised. From first to last, I came out 1. EC12 (7.5/10) 2. 1792 12 year (6.5/10) 3. Three Chord Twelve Bar (6.5/10) 4. Weller 12 (6/10) EC12: Far and away my favorite pour of the bunch. Not necessarily the most complex, but probably the pour that best exemplified "this just works." Everything came together in a wonderful package that sipped well and was easily enjoyed. Sweet cream with a touch of fruitiness, notes of butterscotch, and an appreciable amount of grassy spice. What lingered in the finish was mostly dry peanut and, ever so slightly, raw sugar candy. Sadly, this is also the hardest pour to get more of. 1792: It was a real toss-up between this and the Three Chord. I needed another pour of each to make a decision. Oily, earthy, hints of tobacco, something almost bitter, noticeable amount of charred oak, dusty leather. In the finish, there was dry peanut powder (more like PB2 than real peanut) and a slightly sour note. There was a hint of something almost savory, like barbecue. Twelve chord: highest proof, most peanut, dry medicinal herbal notes, some caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. Despite being the highest proof by a good bit, it didn't drink noticeably hotter than any of the others. Maybe the least complex/ most one note. I wish there was more depth and complexity. W12: The worst by a small-but-non-trivial margin. It was the smoothest of the bunch, in that it had the least bite and spice - which makes sense because it's also the lowest proof and there's no rye in the mash bill. However, in what I could taste, there were off-putting notes that were highlighted by the side-by-side format - cheap bubble gum being the worst. The whole thing felt like it was at conflict with itself: thinness in the mouthfeel (too low proof), too much char (from the age), clove, and an unpleasant bubble gum/strawberry banana (a common byproduct of wheat in the mash bill but more pronounced in the side-by-side format). There was also fake strawberry Nesquik in the finish that lingered and lingered. I had to go rinse with water and come back, and it was better thereafter: a touch of maple sugar.

Dark amber Nose: ethanol and vanilla First sip: caramel sweetness- very little burn. A hint of baking spices that quickly fade. So smooth and pleasant. There’s far more going on than the nose would lead you to believe. After sitting: All the ethanol burns off the nose, leaving fruity berries and caramel. Still super smooth, but not much flavor change. With water: Washes it out completely. Don’t. Long, sweet finish. I loved this. Easy sipper. I like it best as an overall experience once it has sat for a few minutes.

Tasted at the BIC Camera in Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan. This bottle is just sitting on the shelf of tasting bottles, but not on the menu. Absolutely no idea how long it has been there. The nose is peanut, tinge of caramel, woody, and slight cardboard. The taste carries forward the peanut, but in a sugary melted peanut caramel brittle sense. The barrel notes from the nose are completely gone in this sweeter than anticipated taste. The finish is short, sweet, and a bit thin, with slight ethanol.

1991 pre-fire HH at its best. An ounce from a friend. A little dusty and funky but that signature HH flavor shines. Hits me mid tongue and stays around with an oily body. Wheat on the nose and a light brown sugar, woody presence. No off flavors or ethanol by now. Still has that paper-y finish that i taste in a lot of HH (not in a bad way). Light vanilla, caramel, oak. Moderately sweet and a pleasant sipper at 95pf. 9.5/10 would bang again, too bad these are a real rarity

I agree with the experts review regarding the tasting notes. I had been wanting to try this bourbon for some time and my expectations were high. While I found it a little disappointing it was not bad at all, there was just nothing special or unique about it that I would put it into my bottle rotation. I think for the price ($25) it is good value, it just falls short for me. However, it may just be the perfect profile for you, so don’t be put off giving it a try.

Excellent! Full and rich of bunch of aroma spread over the room once opening the bottle. Sweet from vanila, cinamon, and fruits, and spicy from ginger, pepper make the taste sophisticated. Spicy at first, then followed by the sweetness, ended with long finished of aroma and nutmeg. A typical bourbon that worths to experience!