Elijah Craig Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon (Private Label)

ELIJAH CRAIG PRIVATE BARREL SHOWDOWN Total Wine Private Barrel Distiller Selection (TWPB) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8-year age statement Barrel Serial # 6653214 120.7 proof Vs. Bevmax Private Barrel (BVPB) -------------------------------------- 9-year age statement Barrel serial # 6205648 127.7 proof TWPB Pantone 160 in color. Nose of BBQ sauce, bacon, maple syrup, brown sugar, and a dusty element, along with some gentle, cooling spearmint. Heat not at all apparent on the nose, but that changes dramatically on the palate, where everything is amplified. Lots of spice leads to a longish finish with notes of vanilla. The overall impression is disjointed, like a gangly teenager or big-pawed puppy yet to fill out its frame. 3.5 on the Distiller scale. BVPB Pantone 167; more russet than the TWPB. Completely different nose: far smoother, with buttered maple-syruped pancakes, pomander, crème brûlée. On the palate, there is some sweet corn; the 127.7 proof is noticeable, but is more integrated than the lower-proof TWBP, and is more reminiscent of the elder 12-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP) releases, but not quite as intense and smooth in general. 4.0 on the Distiller scale. This "showdown" is something of an apples-to-oranges comparison, even though both are Elijah Craig private barrels. Two different barrels, two different age statements, two different selectors. While the 9-year-old in this case (BVPB) is superior to the 8-year-old (TWPB), I have no way of knowing if the difference is a function of age alone. Normal ECBP releases are bottled at 12 years of age, and neither of these are in the class of the typical ECBP release. If anything, this comparison underscores the variability that is apparent between single barrels and single years. The difference is significant. The economic aspect to the distillers also cannot be ignored: who knows what the process of barrel selection actually is? Has Heaven Hill set aside the dregs, and packaged them in a marketing ploy of "pick the best one as you see fit?" We may never know. What we do know is that barrels and years are two of many variables that make a significant difference. N.B.: All spirts tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Total wine and more pick, 125.1 proof, 11 year age stated. Sweet and spicy nose with allspice, nutmeg, confectioners sugar, honey, ginger, nougat, vanilla cream, and Snickers bar. As I was writing this before taking my first sip, suddenly a berry note came out of nowhere. Ethanol nicely restrained. Whoa. Palate much woodier and more astringent than the nose would indicate. Sour cherries, oak, caramel, dark chocolate, sweet corn, buttered toast, and berry. Flavors are sharp and “tight” if that makes sense. Lingering finish brings more sourness (almost like gummy worms), furniture varnish, astringent oak, cherry NyQuil, black pepper, cinnamon, the dark chocolate from the palate, and barrel char. Mouthfeel is the thinnest and grainiest I have ever experienced in a ECBP product to the point of being watery, ultimately resulting in an unpleasant prickly feel where everything is felt solely on the sides of the tongue. This is…not good. All prickles and stings. Strangely sour and let me tell you, sour is NOT a note I appreciate in my whiskey. Someone actually selected this and said “this is the one”?!? I think I paid 79.99 for this and it’s a few steps above a drain pour. I’ll stick to the main three releases each year and leave these “barrel strength private barrel” offerings on the shelf from now on. Huge disappointment.

The Party Source pick Barrel No. 7015341 60.4% abv; 120.8 proof Age - 10 years Open 2 months Nose - Rich caramel, toasted marshmallow, hot cinnamon bun, pine needle, nutmeg, clove, cardamon, sweet and heavy oak, and medium ethanol. Palate - Cinnamon heavy bread pudding, creme brulee, vanilla bean, dark honey, and milk chocolate. Finish is long with sweet oak, sweet tobacco, baking spices, toffee, and medium ethanol. Another excellent pick from The Party Source. This was popular over the Thanksgiving vacation. I've purchased 12 ECBP Private Select picks since they started the program, ranging from 8-10 years and 115.9-132.1 proof. This is all in my Excel sheet for tracking purchases. I cannot find a trend in whether proof or age correlates with my overall ratings. Two of my 4.5/5 stars are 10Y/115.9 proof and 8Y/132.1 proof. My two least favorite picks below 3 stars were 10Y/122.5 proof and 8Y/127.8 proof. I guess my point is ECBP picks are a crapshoot irrespective of age or proof, but they are almost always above average.

Bull City Bourbon Club pick, "Ten From The Bullpen" Barrel No. 6179022 Warehouse Q; Floor 2 Age - 10 years 57.95% abv; 115.9 proof Open 2.5 months Nose - Creme brulee, vanilla cake, peanut butter, dark chocolate, cantaloupe, graham cracker, medium oak, and medium ethanol. Palate - Reese's, blueberry muffin, cocoa nibs, gingerbread, grilled peaches, and cinnamon. Finish is medium-long with pleasant oak spice, brown sugar, black pepper, nutmeg, ginger, cocoa powder, and light ethanol. The lowest proof ECBP I've had, but still delightful. It has a lot in common with some of the lower proof ECBP batches I've enjoyed like C921 and B522. These "low" proof ECBPs are dangerously easy to drink compared to MGP cask strength bourbons at similar proofs. Heaven Hill does such a good job aging these to the point that the graininess is gone and the oak barrel does not overpower the sugars and fruits. For me, any ECBP pick is a must buy, even at $80.

OHLQ Exclusive pick Barrel No. 6783784 Age - 8 years 63.65% abv; 127.3 proof Open 6 months Nose - Burnt caramel, toasted marshmallow, rye spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cigar smoke, oak char, and strong ethanol. Palate - Toffee, caramel, dark chocolate, cinnamon syrup, black pepper, rye bread, vanilla bean, and oak extract. Finish is medium-long with heavy oak char, black pepper, old tobacco, toffee, and medium ethanol. Another solid ECBP pick, but nothing spectacular. Time and time again, these 8 and 9 year old single barrels are as good or better than the older batch releases. I'm always pretty shocked when I can find these pretty easily compared to the batches. The only difference at this point is a slight markup in price depending on where you live.

Texas Mart 2023 Pick - Aged 9y bottled at 121.1 proof Fresh Crack First Pour Nose: There’s the classic vanilla and cinnamon spice notes however I can’t help but notice a less-than-subtle hint of mint. Letting it breathe really opens up the sweetness and adds a strong aroma of peanut brittle. Much more complex than the other private barrels I have sampled. Palate: As always with ECSP it starts with a blast of spice, however this time that peanut brittle can be found lingering in the explosion. A sort of earthy or herbal note can also be found. The finish is extremely long and nutty. This is by far the best ECSP I’ve ever had. Extremely happy I could snag a bottle and excited to come back to it after a few weeks and see if it’s gotten better.