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    Bourbon

    Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – May 2017 Batch B517 124.2° Review

    BillBy BillMay 17, 2017Updated:January 2, 2018No Comments3 Mins Read

    Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 124.2°

    92 Excellent

    The relatively lower ABV on this barrel-proof format of the stalwart Elijah Craig works wonderfully. The highlights include the fantastic nose and pleasing finish.

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    What it is

    Very simply, it’s good ole’ Elijah Craig 12 year old small batch bourbon bottled at the proof it was meant to be bottled at: barrel proof. That’s not to say standard Elijah Craig is lacking in flavor, it’s actually a very good bourbon. But give me a good bourbon strong as the day it was born, without being overly filtered or watered down to proof, and you’ve made me a very happy man.  We’ve reviewed two releases of Elijah Craig Barrel proof before, and you can see those ratings here.  While the standard Elijah Craig has lost its age statement, the barrel proof, thankfully, remains a stout 12 years old.

    You can see all the Elijah Craig Barrel proof Releases by batch, proof, and release date here.

    Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B517 124.2° Stats
    •Producer: Heaven Hill Distilleries
    •62.1% ABV (124.2 Proof)
    •Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
    •Barrel Char Level: #3
    •Age: 12 Years
    •Availability: Limited Release
    •Price Paid: Media Sample.  Retails for between $60 and $75.

    Packaging

    This is the second batch of barrel proof Elijah Craig to use the new bottle format that became the norm near the end of 2016.  The photos below show the new bottle on the left with the previous packaging on the right:

    Photo Courtesy of Heaven Hill

    Appearance

    Deep, dark brown and amber

    Nose

    This is the first Elijah Craig variant, and one of the first Heaven Hill offerings I’ve sampled that shows a note of ripe bananas on the nose.  In fact, it’s incredibly pronounced.  Beneath that is sweet simple syrup with caramel and oak.

    Taste

    This batch hits the palate with warm cinnamon and gingerbread, but follows up with vanilla, oak, and a strong rye kick.

    Finish

    As previous batches have proven, the barrel proof versions of Elijah Craig maintain a long, satisfying finish with definite black pepper rye spices and oak tannins from the barrel.  This is no different.

    Synopsis

    At 124.2 proof, this is lowest proof release of ECBP to date.  It’s also perhaps the best.  The nose is simply fantastic with the sweet bananas fading into simple syrup and caramel, and the finish is perfect for this release.   I wish the banana scents had carried through a touch more to the palate, but it’s still an excellent sip.  The lower proof has done wonders to take this from a bit of an untamable beast to a subtle and viscous sip.

    ModernThirst.com Score: 92 out of 100

    What does this score mean?

    Photo Courtesy of Heaven Hill
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    Bill
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    Bill is the Co-Founder, Editor-in Chief, and official Bourbon-o-Phile for ModernThirst.com, and Founder and Chief Blending Officer for Four Gate Whiskey Company. He is a native of Louisville, KY in the heart of Bourbon Country. He attended the University of Kentucky in the mid to late 1990s. He has also been published on Liquor.com. He has conducted various bourbon and whiskey tastings in cities across the country, and consulted for multiple national labels. He is married with two daughters, and lives in east Louisville. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter @BillStraub and email him at Bill@ModernThirst.com.

    Related Posts

    Four Gate Whiskey Announces Release 15.1, 15.2, & 15.3: The Bluegrass Trilogy

    November 30, 2021

    Old Forester 21st Release of Annual Birthday Bourbon

    August 24, 2021

    Press Release: Old Forester’s Next Release in the 117 Series Features a Blend of Barrels Aged Solely in Warehouse K 

    August 20, 2021

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