Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C922

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP) is bottled uncut, straight from the barrel, without chill filtration. It is released three times per year: January (“A”, or first batch; month 1), May (“B”, or second batch; month 5), and September (“C”, or second batch; month 9). This bottle is the third release of 2022: hence C922. The mashbill is 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye. It carries a 12-year age statement. Fruity nose, with cherry coke syrup, apple pie, cinnamon, clove, some subtle tangerine, and a whiff of cool spearmint. On the palate, super sweet chocolate covered cherries and lots vanilla oakiness, with a modestly viscous mouthfeel. The finish begins with more of that sweet vanilla oak, a pleasantly bitter espresso, freshly crushed pine needles, and a lingering tangerine reappearance, preceded by some noticeable heat—but that’s both wanted and expected when drinking a 124.8-proof bourbon. ECBP is always one of my favorite bourbons, and I try to find each of the three releases each year. I already have this year's A122 (reviewed 6/25/22). I've not yet seen the B522, and were it not for the sharp eyes of a good friend of mine who found the C922 for me in an adjacent state, I wouldn't have this one either. The $99 retail was $15-20 more than what I usually pay, but I'd not yet been able to find this release. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. N.B. All spirits tasted neat in Glencairn glasses.

Nose opens with stewed fruits in the form of pear and apple, tobacco, leather, vanilla cake frosting, orange marmalade, caramel chew, old cedar furniture, allspice, clove, Honestly, there is so much depth and complexity here you get a new element with every sniff. A truly great aroma. Ethanol is well controlled. Palate brings more “dark” elements than the nose would indicate; tons of gooey caramel, Black Forest cake, ripe date, toffee, black cherry, fig newton, and dark chocolate. Saying flavors are rich and robust is a massive understatement. Finish is insanely good with…remember one of those crazy ice cream sundaes you would get from a place like Swenson’s where it was three scoops of vanilla ice cream and then you had one fudge, butterscotch, and strawberry topping on each scoop? That’s totally there in this finish. Even a hint of the chopped nuts. Just enough cinnamon, black pepper, and toasted oak to add balance and keep things from becoming cloying. Very long, but wanted it to be longer because it’s so damned good. Mouthfeel is full bodied and creamy. A delight. So some ECBP releases are spicy, some earthy, and some sweet, and this is definitely the latter and it really hit the spot for me. Right up there with the best of the best of the expression. Can’t remember if I paid $79.99 or $99.99 for this but it doesn’t matter because the rating is 5 out of 5 either way.

Another one that's been resting in my cellar for 2 years. C922, 12 years in oak, 124.8 proof, tasting neat. Deep rosy brown copper and strong coating legs in the glass. Caramel corn and cherry, maple syrup and dry sweet grass on the nose. Hint of ethanol in the far back. In the mouth, ethanol and rye spices bloom in a cocoon of sweet maple syrup and burnt brown sugar. Dry tannic oak and floral vanilla and cherry take over, with cinnamon and baking spices holding the sweetness in check. You can taste the alcohol content. Finish is tannic, dry grassy spice, mouth-tingling mint, and then a loooong lingering black cherry flavor. Dry but not sour or overly sweet. An ice cube calms, but does not erase, that dry tannic spiciness. It's great, with or without. This was one of those barrel proof releases that EC hit on the nose. It's more assertive than the sweeter Larceny B522 barrel proof I just opened-- drier, more tannic, spicy, and assertive. They're both good. This is more challenging in flavor profile for the additional years it stayed in oak. Glad I held on to it--haven't had an EC like this in 2023 (never found a C923, damn!). Hoping their C924 (next month) is this good. Fingers crossed.

I always look forward to this release, last year was my first try and it was 1 of my favorite pours. I had some when I first got it, and it was a little sharp. I let it sit a about 15 mins to open up. On the nose I get apple, a hint of pear, oak spice, brown sugar, and caramel. The front of the palate has sugary sweetness, that leads into baking spices,and oak in the mid palate. The back of the palate has more sweet oak, chocolate, and salted peanuts. The finish is long and spicy with a viscous mouth feel, I get a note similar to a honey glazed ham with clove and cinnamon. You really get a long Kentucky Hug with this one and some drying of the palate on the back end. Very enjoyable, not sure if it ranks as high as last years C batch of course I have none left.

I don't often pay much attention to the "expert review" here, but the notes there are pretty good. The nose is caramel apple, brown sugar, peanut, sweet tobacco. I could see saltwater taffy, as noted by the expert. The palate carries much the same. The back end shows some nice oakiness which is well balanced against the sweetness up front. I think it's an improvement over the last batch, but still doesn't live up to my favorite so far, which has been A121. These always seem to be very good to great and this one doesn't disappoint. Great value, 12-year age statement barrel proof bourbon, purchased under $70. Going with the same score I gave the last batch, but I'd have this one a hair ahead of it. 4.19 to B522's 3.88.

Neck pour review Aroma - tremendous. Cherry cola, deep oak, caramal and vanilla. Slight nutty note. As it opens up, im getting more black berries, and spices. Really hope the taste follows the nose Taste - Quite a bit peanut coming through mid-palate and finish on the neck pour. Berries, oak and caramel up front. Vanilla spiking with that nuttiness on the finish. Really enjoying this pour. Overall - I love just how sticky this batch is… it coats the palate extremely well. Sticks to the mid palate and provides that long lasting caramel and oak with alcohol burn. If you can get this for $90 or under..do it