Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A119

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2019 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B519 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 2019, I was never able to find C919, so this showdown will compare the A119 to the B519. 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 A119 Color is a clear russet mahogany, consistent with Pantone 153. Prominent cherries on the nose, orange marmalade, caramel apples, oaky vanilla, and noticeable alcohol. Just the slightest bit of creaminess on the palate, with caramelized sugar and spicy cinnamon with the alcohol kick, finishing with some tobacco, leather, toasted oak, and lots of vanilla on the medium-long finish. For $75-80, the age statement, barrel proof, and consistent good- to-great quality of ECBP makes this bourbon a no-brainer. Unfortunately, they get scarce pretty quickly, and I’m typically not able to secure all three releases for any given year—though I definitely try. ECBP always represents a great value. This particular batch is very good: complex, robust, and approaching hazmat proof, which doesn’t overwhelm the depth and richness of flavor. Give me a campfire in the woods on a cool fall evening, and this (and a good woman). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.36, z=0.70, n=270 (moderately better than all ECBPs) 135.2 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B519 Bourbonesque clear mahogany (Pantone 153) is indistinguishable in color from the A119. Nose begins with a soft cocoa powder followed by fruity cherries, grilled peaches, and strawberry preserves, and a whiff of cool licorice. The palate has a little sweetness, quickly revealing some espresso bitterness, woody tannins, char, roasted marshmallow, and burnt caramel, before fading to vanilla. Tasted after the A119, the B519’s lower proof is evident: this is a kinder, gentler ECBP. “Gentler,” but not “gentle.” It’s softer than the A119, but has the gusto to wear the ECBP banner proudly. While the community rates this as slightly below all ECBPs over the past seven years, I’d rate it just slightly above, but given the quarter-point increments of the Distiller rating system, there’s not enough to push it to a 4.5 like the A119. Great value as always. Would I buy it again? Yes. I buy every ECBP release that I see. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.25 Community: m=4.23, z=-0.23, n=305 (slightly worse than all ECBPs) 122.2 proof. 12-year age statement. For the most part, comparing ECBPs is like comparing BMWs with Mercedes, or critiquing any luxury car brand and debating the merits of different options. These tasting “Showdowns” are fun to do, and I believe are good exercises for your nose and palate. Finding the good stuff requires wading through a lot of crap. I’ve waded through a lot of crap already, and am sure that ECBP is among the good stuff. Overall, the A119 is more complex and assertive, whereas the B519 is softer (and still complex). Both are perched near the top of the bourbon world. The A119 appeals a bit more to my palate than the B519, but I will continue to happily drink them both. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

This is my second batch of ECBP. The C917 is one of the top few whiskies I've ever had. Hell, even the standard Small Batch is some really good stuff. With the 92 rating on Distiller, I've got some expectations going into this one. And as a side note, I'd like to point out this is the strongest bottle I've ever owned in any category, clocking in at a whopping 67.6% ABV. Nose: Caramel and cocoa jump right out of the glass. Toasted marshmallow and roasted coffee. Butterscotch. Some dry fruit and citrus notes. Pencil shavings and a touch of leather that I can't quite compare to any particular item (somewhere between a new baseball glove and an old book cover). I even get some of the carrot cake I get in Henry McKenna and even a bit of tobacco ash. Loads of cinnamon, allspice, and oak. Some barrel char. A bit of a burn but enticing nonetheless. Great start. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, cocoa, and cola sweetness are accompanied by something that I can only describe as a Hawaiian Punch Gusher. Oddly specific, but I cannot deny that it's there. Carrot cake and candy corn. A bit of cherry and some dried fruit. Hazelnut, almond and maybe some roasted pecan. Barrel char is now out in full force. Just a touch of milk chocolate. It's very oaky, and some of the cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and allspice notes start to creep up at the tail end of the palate. Finish: Black pepper, gloce, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. Loads of oak. A real spice bomb. Caramel and vanilla, roasted coffee and tobacco smoke. Barrel char and lemon and orange citrus notes. Some more carrot cake. Even though it's a spice bomb, there's a lot more going on in what makes for an extremely long finish. Well done. Superb. 5/5. Not sure if it's better than the C917, but I'll tell you why it's worthy of similar praise. This takes some of the best aspects of the C917, which is ultimately darker and more decadent, and combines them with some of the sweet and tangy notes typically found in Henry McKenna. This Batch tows the line between two of my all-time favorites and presents that combination in a uncut, unfiltered, and unprecedented expression. At $75, this is a steal. I'd gladly pay more. There is much to love here. They've moved pretty far past this one, as I think it's already over a year old. If you can still find it, I highly recommend buying on sight. After two 5-star batches, I'm a batch or two away from crowning ECBP as on the greatest lines in all of whiskey. Cheers!

This is my first experience with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and the highest proof bourbon I've tasted so far. The initial nose is surprisingly light on alcohol, very deceptive. I get dried dark fruit, and with a deeper inhale, oak and alcohol. Big dessert spice/sweet oak overwhelm the tongue, much stronger than the fruit from the nose. I also get vanilla and chocolate that are in tune with the spiced oak flavor. The alcohol burn is lighter than expected. The finish is super long and oily. The alcohol is most prominent on the finish, and the dark fruit reemerges along with dessert spice and tannins. I normally avoid adding water to any of my whiskey these days, but with a proof this high I figured I should try it. After a small splash of water, the oak and alcohol are stronger on the nose than before. The taste is more tannic with added water, which clearly brings out the oak and alcohol flavor. In my opinion it gets worse with water, muting the fruit, vanilla, and spice. Overall this is a fantastic cask strength bourbon and I think in the future I'll try to buy one of the releases once a year. The EC A119 is not my favorite high proof bourbon, but it is widely available and a tremendous value. You cannot say the same for a lot of cask strength offerings.

I love blind samples. It’s the one true way to appreciate something without bias. This generous pour here was sent courtesy of @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington. Okay—-let’s dive in… Clearly getting bourbon-y aromas. Real oak-y too. So, either it’s well aged (> 15yr), or it’s been sitting in an intense heat somewhere ( TX, NV?). Some caramel. The only information on the label is 135.2 proof, but I’m not sensing that on the nose. It’s muted. With that high proof, I need to add some water. Wow. Now it’s not so muted. Comes on strong like a frat boy hitting on a drunk sorority girl. No qualms there on what this bourbon’s intentions are ( if it is a bourbon…but I bet my Karuizawa bottle it’s a bourbon). Vanilla , caramel, dark fruits. Oak. A lot of oak. Okay…I’m guessing either first choice Garrison Cowboy or second choice Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Distant third ( highly unlikely) Barrel Bourbon. Peel back the label to reveal it…YES!! Elijah Craig BP it is! Batch A119. This is an incredible bourbon. For me to think this was the Cowboy simply shows how good it is. Thanks @Bourbon_Obsessed_Lexington for the pour!

ECBP was my white whale for so long. It was impossible to get. So A119 Nose - Caramel and oak. So sweet and yet it's a pretty simple whisky. Just those two notes in intense ways. Taste - More of the same. Rich and intense oak and caramel, the oak is wonderfully even in nature. Adds a bit of bitter but doesn't go to the extremes. Meanwhile so much caramel, truly intense. This is the perfect example of intense bourbon notes but while I get why people think of this as a perfect bourbon, it's not close. The oak is a bit young and yet 12 years give it an intense oak note. It's that weird we're not dealing with well aged bourbon but there's a lot of oak. Sweet beyond words. This stuff is every bit worth the hype at 60 bucks a bottle. But no it isn't "WOW" and it isn't all that special in the bourbon world. It's the result of in part a lack of high quality bourbon so we see it as amazing.

The nose is surprisingly gentle yet spicy, with an initial burst of charred oak, rye spice, brine and a distinct earthiness. This nose is absolutely incredible, one of the best I've ever featured from this series of whiskey. You smell it and you immediately know you want to dive right in to it. The palate is rich and dry, with a strong burst of pepper, charred oak, rye spice and again that distinct note of earthiness in the background. Despite how long it breathes, it does not lose any of its intensity. Which is quite remarkable quality in a whiskey that it sets fire no matter what. The finish is long and tingling, the mouth buzzes with spice and dry oak as the rest of it fades pretty nicely, but can be coaxed back to life with a chew. This is one of the more intense expressions in the lineup which is one of its hallmarks. Definitely going to miss this.