Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C924

For a long time, after I first tasted Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, I didn't have Elijah Craig Barrel Proof again. I was unimpressed. But that was also partially because I was a novice whisky drinker. This was maybe five or six years ago when I bought a bottle based on reputation and all I tasted was fire. I was probably going, at that time from drinking 80 proof whiskies, to whatever proof that particular batch was. Then I bought a bottle of Elijah Craig Single Barrel, a store pick from Sommers Point Jersey that was 94 proof and was watery, tepid, flavorless. I tried mixing drinks with it and those cocktails only tasted like the mixers. Actually, it tasted kind of like Rittenhouse Rye, another overrated dram that I would describe as tepid and flavorless. (Side note: my wife just bought a bottle of Rittenhouse after I told her it was flavorless and bad because her favorite YouTube bartender influencer Anders swears by it, and though I warned her she bought it anyway, and then realized I was right, but seemed surprised that I was right. "He described it as a bourbon lover's rye," she said. "Do you hear the words you just said," I replied, "Doesn't that just sound like shit to begin with?"). Anyway, back to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, I gave it another chance starting in 2022, and though I prefer Larceny Barrel Proof by a long shot, I do buy ECBP anytime a new batch comes in. For a while it was still $65 here and now it's only $75, so even if I find it a little overrated in the way people lose their minds about it, I still think it's good enough to pay that much for. And a lot of people, since it lost the 12 year age statement, have complained that it's dropped in quality, but I find it pretty consistent from batch to batch, vanilla, oak, caramel, cherry, cinnamon. Yeah, certain batches are slightly better than others, but it's pretty consistent. Until now. Oddly, this is barrel proof bourbon that drinks like a barrel proof rye. Almost. And that's not nearly as shitty as describing Rittenhouse as a bourbon lovers rye sounds. It's actually quite good, but not as good as ECBP usually is. What I mean is this is perhaps the spiciest ECBP I've ever tasted. The spice is overwhelming. I mean this is like pumpkin spice bourbon with clove and nutmeg and cinnamon all commingling. The expert reviewer here plays up the cherry flavor, and oh, that's kind of there. But really, palate and finish is all about the spice with a tiny hint of cherry coming back at the very end to tingle your senses with like a Luden's cough drop tang. Overall, probably my least favorite of all batches in recent years, but still not bad. I've never been that guy who's going to do cartwheels about ECBP, but I'm also not that guy who's going to turn it down either. Ours is a fraught relationship with a period of estrangement last year when we didn't get C923 in our state and I was a little pissed off because it was supposed to be the best in years. Oh well. I thought both A124 and B124 were pretty decent. This one, this is the slightly above average batch. Sometimes when I like it I go back and buy a second bottle, but I won't be doing that here.

Although the barrel proof Elijah Craig is almost unanimously tasty, I bought this by accident, as I picked it up while browsing but forgot to really consider it at all. Thankfully, I did get it for $5 less than MSRP, and I'll take anything I can get in The Wasteland. I don't normally reference reviews when purchasing, but I've already seen multiple entries that reference an intense cinnamon candy type note, and even one that called out my very favorite affordable Heaven Hill rye whiskey. I also don't remember the labels for this barrel proof line always having the age on it, and I don't know what age range is usually bottled, but for $70, 11 years is very impressive for our current American whiskey selection. The nose is impressive and powerful from just a few feet away, but what's even more impressive is the color, really pushing into the chocolate mahogany range and creating that perfect right-out-of-the-barrel image. The legs are almost at a standstill as well, which is always hard to find in the American market. Deeper into the glass, the nose provides notes of maraschino cherries and deeply charred oak, of itself combining the sweet wood sugar notes alongside a softer baking spice you might find in a toasted barrel. Initial flavors are also really focused on the Ying-Yang oak from the nose, with no shortness of cinnamon and spicy spearmint notes you'd get from a classic American full rye whiskey. The gums start warming up and it sticks around, but it's not that deep, aggressive, or distracting. Some red berry and spiced French oak notes also come around with some air introduced, with the finish keeping the baking spiced oak, but subbing out the berries for that cinnamon spice. There are very few barrel proof American whiskeys that really carry a concentrated spice and flavor without being too overbearing, but the Elijah Craig brand has absolutely no issue with this. This batch has less cinnamon spice than is more typical from some other batches, instead showcasing softer flavors of the oak, and surprisingly some baking spice flavors you'd get from a much less charred barrel. The cinnamon spices that I was expecting aren't as strong as I want, but are still plenty present and play well with this excellent representation of what unfussy mash bills, no added water, and old fashioned, underrated patience can provide.

Happy to have this, although it’s been much easier to obtain most any ECBP release around here - except the vaunted C923 - for the past year or so. Pour appears dark amber or even mahogany in the glencairn. Legs move lazily down the insides after rotating glass around to coat them. Nose is rich and full right away, a big punch of sweet and dustyness that’s difficult to pick apart. The sweetness is like a rich cherry syrup, with hints of caramel and brown sugar. The other component is a dry dusty note like dried corn ears, the kind that get used as fall decor. But this only undergirds the thick syrupy sweetness, it doesn’t dominate. Returning after many sips I get a fairly strong vanilla cream note. First sip is tightly restrained on the front palate, but warming and medicinal on the back palate. After more sips, the front palate is still tricky to pick apart but there’s caramel, cherry, some subtle oak, some cinnamon, and some brown sugar. The more medicinal flavors subsequently fade on the back palate, and more of a lightly tannic oak effect develops. Later on, the mid palate tastes brighter, with flashes of lemon and allspice, maybe even anise. The finish is initially hot but not for long, as the heat fades the tannic oak returns and lingers on the back palate. Little hints of cinnamon and cocoa powder dance on the mid palate. All eventually ebbs after a fairly long time. This is certainly delightful juice. The flavor is rich indeed, but the individual notes are all somewhat intermingled and difficult to isolate. This makes it easy to enjoy, but difficult to describe well. This doesn’t disappoint, though, living up to the reputation ECBP has developed for value and quality. (It’s hard to fathom, but where I live this costs only slightly more than retail for 2 bottles of EC Small Batch.) This is quite delicious and there aren’t any notable flaws, so high marks from me. 4.25/5

Nose is bold and full of sweet and spicy notes; vanilla custard, caramel flan, cinnamon bear candy, nutmeg, candied ginger, date, dark rye bread, tobacco, and cherry. Ethanol very low given the proof. Flavors are rich and decadent; chocolate covered cherries, caramel sauce, French vanilla, peanut butter, sweet oak, raisin, and molasses. Delicious. Extremely long finish offers pink peppercorn, cinnamon, anise, more oak, a bright apple note (very welcome!) clove, and barrel char. Mouthfeel is sublime; thick, chewy, and slick. A really cohesive whiskey with zero flaws. Yeah yeah, “ECBP is getting worse!” Well, if this is worse, it’s still better than 90% of the bourbons out there. At a slightly inflated $89.99, it’s still a joy and a bargain even if it’s not the “best” batch.

Thick oily legs in the glass. Nose has leatjwr and barn hay, with a hibt of pecans, and candied apples. Especially considering the proof, not much burn. Overall, very nice nose. Palate brings fall spices, hot cinnamon candies, and black pepper, making the perimeter of the tongue tingle. Sweet pecans make an appearance as the heat fades. Finish lingers with a tinge of smoke. Ice mellows the heat and lwts fruit come forward. A nice sipper, and surprisingly mellow for 129 proof.

Nose is rich and sweet. Get notes of vanilla, caramel, fudge and some hints of peanut, raisin and all spice. Palate is initially heavily vanilla and caramel. Also get the peanut notes toward the mid-palate. Finish brings heat and spice. The finish has an oaky and leathery note with a drying quality that lasts for a long time.