Review #90 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: Bourbon

Score: 8.9 / 10

Distillery: Heaven Hill

Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon

In case you are new to Bourbon and didn't know. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is fantastic!. If you are not the biggest fan of Elijah Craig's normal release (it's ok, I also fall into this category), it is completely original. As far as barrel proof whiskies go, this is definitely one of the best whiskey brands. It is an allocated whiskey, but it is not completely impossible to find on shelves.

I am always happy to pick up a new(ish) release of ECBP. In Colorado, it generally takes six months for a release to hit stores (e.g. the September 2020 probably wouldn't even be available to me until March of 2021). This was just one of the many bottles that I acquired over the last couple years.

Whiskey Review:

Nose: Lemon, lemon rind, caramel, seasoned oak, espresso, cherry cola. A lot more on the nose than some other high proofers.

Palate: Very oily mouthfeel that packs a lot of lemon citrus, cherry and red apple at first before turning effervescent and bringing out sizzling cinnamon, baking spices, toasted oak and astringent lemon rind. Light, but malty dark chocolate lingers in the background.

Finish: Very long. Moderately tannic and lingering. Big astringent lemon rind sits in front and center on this finish. Creamy peanut butter and oak continue to build as the finish lingers on.

Score: 8.9

Scale:

S+ Sensational - The Pinnacle (9.5+)

A - AXEceptional (astounding) (9-9.5)

B - bravo (step aBove average) (8-8.9)

C - competent (7-7.9)

D - disappointing (6-6.9)

F - flush it down the toilet (fail) (5.9 below)

Notes: Availability? Uncommon-Rare. This stuff is great, so if you need to fight the person behind you to get the last bottle in the store, I highly recommend it. It's not easy to find, but places that get it will get it a couple times a year if you stay on top of of the releases and stores around you.