Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A117

I’m always excited to try a new batch from one of my favorite whiskey lines. I can’t say this is new though— it’s my 5th ECBP overall and the oldest of the bunch in terms of chronology. I saw this collecting dust a while back and grabbed it on a whim. Nose: Warm apple pie. Brown sugar, milk chocolate, caramel, and toffee. Carrot cake, apricot, and orange citrus. Tobacco, cocoa, and black tea. Black pepper, rye spice, clove, nutmeg, and a heavy dose of oak. Awesome. Palate: Apple and leather. Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, and cola, and milk chocolate. Carrot cake, apricot, and orange. Tobacco and black tea. Black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and powerful oak. Great taste. Finish: Caramel, cocoa, and milk chocolate. Black tea, cocoa, and tobacco. Heaps of black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and oak. A finish as long as you’d expect from a 63.5% ABV whiskey. Once again—it delivers. This fits the basic high-proof Heaven Hill profile. In fact, it embodies all of my favorite attributes that the distillery has to offer. 5/5. I’ve spoken highly about ECBP many times on this forum. This punches with the best of those batches. This is more a look into the past than it is a purchase recommendation, but if you can find this 2017 jewel in the year 2022, I say buy on sight.

Despite its high proof, it's complex and enjoyable, especially with a splash of water.