Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B521

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2021 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; however, my only complete year for all three releases is 2017. For 2021, I was never able to find C921, so this showdown will compare the A121 to the B521. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). At the time of yesterday’s review: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 The A121 presents as a deep, dark amber, much like Pantone 152. Effusive nose shows toasted oak, peanut brittle (this later after going back and forth between the two), cherries, pomander (both the dried orange and clove components), some corn pudding, vanilla, and a little anise at the end. The palate is wonderfully sweet and the alcohol is quickly noticeable on the back end, bringing some spice. Charred oak, just a smidgen of tannic bitterness, and nice vanilla on the finish. Caveat lector: I’m a huge ECBP fan, and I’m certainly not alone there. Where else are you going to find rich, bold flavors at 125-ish proof for $75? Larceny Barrel Proof (another Heaven Hill product) is getting there (it’s actually a little cheaper). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has no competition in this space. Would I buy it again? Yes. Over the course of half an hour, the A121 just kept getting better and better. It’s amazing. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.24, z=-0.16, n=239 (marginally worse than all ECBPs) 123.6 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Like the A121, the B521 is a clear version of Pantone 152. Nose exhibits crème brûlée, toasted oak, clove, apple cider, and a little bit of a dusty element. Palate is sweeter than the nose, with chocolate-covered cherries. I even thought I got a touch of pineapple, with some coconut: not quite a piña colada, but coconut is not uncommon from oak. . The alcohol seems a little more integrated (to be fair, it is 4.6 proof points lower than the A121), but teh spice is there. Roasted marshmallow, a little oak, and a long pull of vanilla on the finish. This is beginning to sound like a broken record: complex nose, rich and robust flavors, barrel-proof strength, and $75. Would I buy it again? Yes. Every time. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.15, z=-0.81, n=190 (moderately worse than all ECBPs) 118.2 proof. 12-year age statement. Both of these ECBP releases have without-a-doubt bourbon profiles, with the volume pushing full blast. They’re not perfect exemplars—my benchmarks are the 2019 William Larue Weller and George T. Stagg for higher proofs—and these fall short of that smoothness and the warm, enveloping, even soothing experiences that those bourbons provide. While I’ve listed some different descriptors—which are subjective and often times overlap and are not explicitly distinct—the two releases are more similar than they are different, and consistent with typical ECBP offerings. I rate them higher than the Distiller community. How many bourbons are that much better? Not many. I’ll happily savor these neat: like all ECBP releases, they offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

So lately I've been getting to the bottom of some bottles i've been working on for way too long and just keep forgetting to post reviews on them. Today I finally killed this bottle of B521 and while I'm an Elijah Craig fan as it's what i consider my "go-to" or "daily drinker" I just can't say this is the best batch i've had. Sure, it's good, it's got that ECBP oaky char taste that got me to love the line of Elijah but it's not anywhere near the great taste I've experienced with some other batches they've released. So in typical bourbon fashion and to post the obligatory specs on this I'll give it quick run-through. Appearance - Do i really give a shit what a bourbon looks like? It's got that copper brown color like they all do. Am i color/hue expert no? When i try gins, vodkas, or blanco tequilas do i rate them on color? No, so my rating for this bourbon on appearance is "it looks like a damn bourbon/whiskey and i don't really care". Scent/smell - Smell is very nice. Oaky char with a hint of marshmallow that is so unique to the Elijah Craig label. Love it IMO there is nothing that has the same smell. Maybe because i've been through so many bottles of EC small batch but i could pick it out of a blind lineup any day (similar to how Beam has a unique scent). Scent is very pleasing for this one. Taste - Typical of an Elijah Craig but i get some alcohol tones that i just don't really care for in this one. It's a lower proof release but it's just not that flavorful and as i write this i lowered my score by .25 thinking about that. Typically these barrel proofs will have a lot of heat but followed by a ton of flavor. This one just doesn't have the follow up like most so i just can't love it. Overall this was not my favorite release and i feel the scores are influenced by the troves of new bourbonphiles that don't understand what the older releases tasted like before Heaven Hill became a sellout giving stores single barrel picks everywhere. I can now find store pick barrel proofs at about 10-12 stores locally all priced close to $90 which is exactly what I hoped EC wouldn't turn into. I fear the normal releases they put out 3 times a year aren't going to be as good as some of the barrels they may sell to stores unfortunately but I'm not going to find out by buying 10 bottles at $90 a piece to find out. 9/8/22

Nose: Pure vanilla extract, I could be convinced I was sniffing a fresh opened bottle of Adam’s. Rick house funky oak. Heaven Hill salted peanut shell nuttiness. *Very* faint Tabasco red pepper vinegary-ness in the very back of the glass. The nose is decadent. Palate: Surprising heat for being the lowest proof ECBP. I feel this on the front of my tongue and in the corners of my jowls. There is a baker’s chocolate bitterness that isnt unpleasant, but not what I associate with traditional ECBP. Tart Granny Smith apple skin. And the vanilla extract lands low and flat across the back of my palate as the taste fades. Finish: Drying cocoa smackiness. Oaky. Vanilla on the the retro-nasal. Dusty peanut shells and plenty of oak tannins present. Definitely not as bad as haters want to make it out to be. Most vanilla influenced ECBP I have tried. However the cocoa powder bitterness distracts this batch from delivering the ECBP “wow”. Still... ECBP is one of my favorite bottles for the money (if/when you find it at MSRP). Don’t get FOMO if you missed this, but DO enjoy it if you find it or mooch a taste. ECBP is always a win. Cheers!

Nose is big and bold with candied ginger, orange peel, nutmeg, cinnamon, oak, Brazil nut, rye, melon, and…strawberry(?) There’s a hint of ethanol, but hey it’s barrel proof so somewhat to be expected. Palate offers peanut, toffee, cola, vanilla, cereal grains, sandalwood, and leather. Overall flavor is bright and snappy. Finish is long and hot with the candied ginger and cinnamon from the nose, light barrel char, apple, bitter oak, clove, and a hint of mint. Mouthfeel is full bodied and prickly; stopping just shy of “abrasive”. Not my favorite ECBP, as this one is much more “take EC Small Batch and ramp up the proof”, while I tend to favor the darker, sweeter profile from this expression. Is it still good and worth the price? Most definitely. I will always buy ECBP and quite frankly, you should too.

Nose: dried fruit and alcohol Palate: caramel, oaky tannin and a hint of menthol, hint of roasted nuts Finish: citrus, faint cherry, oak and mild barrel char This isn’t my favorite ECBP release. My favorite have been chewy, viscous cinnamon bombs. Having said that, it’s still great bourbon, and better than most you’ll find. It’s just that the ECBP releases set an insanely high bar when compared to themselves. Still absolutely worth the $69.99 price tag. I’ll always buy this when I see it, because even when it’s not at its best, it’s still very good. Edit: This bottle gets better as it oxidizes: the palate turns into a sweet creme caramel bomb and the finish also picks up walnuts and shoe polish. Great complexity. Give this one time. It really improves.

The nose is bold and full of chardoke, smoke, leather, vanilla, peanuts and hints of apples. A lot of nuances going on here, but each are distinct and rather easy to find. As it breathes, it just keeps getting better and better. The palate is dry but rich, with a burst of pepper and baking spices, as charred oak, smoke and leather follow. Hints of peanuts and apples are in the background, as is some toasted notes. This is very intense and comes across much higher than it's proof. Despite how intense it is it is quite tasty and a great example of this lineup. The finish is long and smooth yet spicy, with a bit of a chew as the mouth stays somewhat tingly along with a fading creaminess.