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Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof


One of the hottest new bourbons of the year is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.  This is a barrel proof version of the popular Elijah Craig 12 year old that was released earlier this year, but has been nearly impossible to find.  This stuff came and went in a blink of an eye.  I'm told that the allocations are less than those for Pappy Van Winkle, so it will be tough to track down. The suggested retail price is $40, but I don't know if that's what it's actually been going for.

So far, there have been two releases, the first came out at 134.2 proof (67.1% abv) and a second issued at 137 proof (68.5% abv).  I sampled both of them below.


Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (first release), 12 years old, 67.1% abv

This has a huge, wonderful aroma of polished wood.  The palate is candy-sweet with some nice pine and oak notes.  The finish is rich and sweet.  Water brings out caramel on the nose and some tobacco and spice on the palate.

It's been a long time since a new bourbon release really blew me away, but this one did.  It's got huge wood notes balanced with candy sweetness, and with water, complex, spicy notes emerge.  Tasting blind, I would have guessed that this was far older than its 12 years.  A big win for Heaven Hill. 


Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (second release), 12 yo, 68.5% abv 

The nose on this release is more medicinal than the first.  The palate is woody, piney, with some acidic notes. The finish leaves a lot of candy on the nose.  This one also does well with water; in fact, it needs water more than the first release.  Water again brings some spice, but also some candy corn sweetness that settles in for the finish.

This is very good but doesn't quite reach the heights of the first release.  I would recommend both of these, particularly if they are anywhere near the suggested retail price, but if you have a choice, go for the initial 134.2 proof release.


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13 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 29, 2013 at 6:31 PM

    Glad you felt the same way about the 134.2 proof. I picked up 4 bottles for $37/each and left about 15 bottles behind for others to find. I think it is a steal considering the way the current bourbon market is now. Great wood and Carmel notes and the coolest part is when you add drops of water the color transforms and becomes cloudy as heck!

    ReplyDelete
  2. skuAugust 29, 2013 at 8:28 PM

    As you may know, Anon, that cloudiness is the result of not chill filtering.

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  3. AnonymousAugust 30, 2013 at 10:16 AM

    Hello,can you please tell me which store you purchased this at for 37.00.

    Thanks

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  4. AnonymousSeptember 1, 2013 at 8:32 AM

    Richnimrod said;

    I too, LOVED the first release, and am hoping to get my hands on a bottle of the #2. Wondering when/if it'll be available in Michigan.....

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2013 at 9:22 PM

    I ordered a bottle from my local booze emporium around August 5th after they told me that the tight-assed authorities in my "control" state had added it to the officially-sanctioned list. I'm still waiting for it. Apparently making the list doesn't necessarily translate to "we have physical possession of it, ready to ship to your local store". Goddam control-state b.s. again!!

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  6. AnonymousSeptember 14, 2013 at 8:23 PM

    [following up on the above]: I checked in again a couple days ago and the treasured bottle was there in all its glory, hidden away on a shelf to the side of the front counter among other special orders. Either it had just been delivered or (more likely) the random guy on duty forgot to call me (this store is in a college town and their priority is selling beer, not high-end bourbon).

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 21, 2013 at 3:50 PM

    [followup #2]: finally having some now (second release). Agree, Sku, on the need for water - I notice mine doesn't cloud up when adding it (?!)...good, powerful stuff. I note a slightly savory vegetal note on the finish (trying to place it: maybe artichokes?), interesting. Wish I'd been able to try the first release.

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  8. Scott TNovember 11, 2013 at 8:10 PM

    Is the regular 12 yr chill-filtered? I see that the party source has it's own private bottling for the same price that is not chill filtered, but I couldn't find anything regarding the regular release and I'm not home to look at mine.

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  9. skuNovember 11, 2013 at 11:36 PM

    Yes, the regular 12 is filtered.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousDecember 18, 2013 at 12:44 PM

    I just picked up a bottle today and it states it's 133.2 proof is this a third offering?

    ReplyDelete
  11. skuDecember 18, 2013 at 2:03 PM

    Yes, that is the third release.

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousApril 5, 2014 at 7:57 PM

    Hi Sku - what do you think of the most recent EC barrel proof release (spring 2014). It's the version that's 66.2%.

    ReplyDelete
  13. skuApril 5, 2014 at 9:06 PM

    Haven't tried it yet.

    ReplyDelete