Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A124

It's amusing to watch people get upset because last quarter we received a 13-year ECBP, and this time it's 10 Years and 9 Months. Do you see me over here clutching my pearls? How dare they! I've never witnessed such division over something so trivial. I just read a review that started by criticizing this release: 'This tastes nothing like the ECBP I'm familiar with! It's harsh! It's too oaky, too leathery, too gamy.' Please. Perhaps I can scoff because our region never received a shipment of C923. So, I had to settle for tasting A123 and B523 but had to bypass what was supposedly the ultimate ECBP, the one destined to define generations and induce instant orgasms with a sip. But I must concede... this tastes a lot like... ECBP. Except, okay, I'll admit, it's perhaps not quite as exceptional as those other two batches I mentioned having access to. It doesn't quite deliver the same flavor intensity or complexity. I'll concede that point. Maybe this isn't the 4.5 or 4.25-star rating I gave those two. Maybe this is just a 4-star or even a (gasp!) 3.75 ECBP. Again, I'm clutching my pearls. How dare they provide us with a very good bourbon instead of the excellent bourbon I've come to expect as my due? Let's hold them accountable! Is everyone ready with their pitchforks? We detect spice and oak on the nose here. Not a lot of sweetness, and typically ECBP offers some vanilla and caramel on the nose, so yes, it's lacking in that regard. The mouthfeel is good throughout, and the caramel comes through there, as does the cinnamon from the nose carrying over, though much of the fruit typically found with ECBP is also absent. So yes, it's lacking in that respect, if that's what you're seeking. The finish is pleasant and spicy, long, and decent, so it's not lacking there and aligns well with the usual ECBP profile. I'd say the primary issue for most is that this bourbon leans more towards the savory and less towards the sweet side, and many people require their bourbon to be sweet enough to rot their teeth. That might be the source of the disagreement. Personally, I enjoy savory. So, while I acknowledge this might not be quite as outstanding as previous releases, I don't regret purchasing it. It's just not one that, like A123, I'll buy a second bottle of to cellar for future enjoyment. But that's not a negative. It's rare for a whiskey to be so exceptional that I'll do that. This is a more than respectable offering at $75 that you really can't go wrong with. Lament if you must that it's not C923, but C923 is gone. This is what you have now, and soon this too will be gone. Perhaps B524 will be better? Perhaps worse? Let's hope the quality doesn't decline much further because while I'm not actually clutching my pearls, I will eventually stop buying if the roundness, robustness, and complexity diminish. I'm not yet ready to panic. Then again, as much as I like it, I've never been a true ECBP devotee, follower, or advocate. It consistently offers good value for the money, regardless of how you look at it, so I purchase it, but it's never truly amazed me. PS. It's quite funny that a website dedicated to reviewing spirits that require consumers to be over 21 to purchase/consume feels the need to censor the word b*#ch. But there you have it. Clutch your pearls, you old ladies. Profanity is forbidden!

HEAVEN HILL A124 SHOWDOWN ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF A124 LARCENY BARREL PROOF A124 These are two distinct bourbons—Larceny is wheated, while Elijah Craig is not—but both hail from Heaven Hill, both were released in January 2024, both are barrel proof, and both rank among my favored, somewhat attainable, high-proof bourbons. I sampled these over two days, with the necessary warm-up period to adjust my palate to the high alcohol content. ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF A124 Appearance is a deep mahogany (similar to Pantone 160). The aroma offers stewed apples, mild cinnamon, a dry quality, and mint, with a subtle hint of chocolate-covered cherry beneath. The taste has a somewhat thick texture, followed by sweet corn, a pleasant vanilla note, which persists through the finish. The A124 is not among my preferred ECBP batches, particularly after experiencing the exceptional C923 (which I briefly tried here to confirm my feelings). However, my appreciation for it has grown over the last couple of days. Many were let down by the reduced age statement—less than the traditional 12 years, made more noticeable by C923's 13 years and 7 months. While I generally prefer a longer aging period, it doesn't sway my evaluation. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A124 typically costs about $80. Comparatively, it consistently offers good value for a premium, age-stated, high-proof, limited-edition bourbon. Will I purchase it again? Yes. I make an effort to acquire each yearly release. 4.0. 119 proof. 10 years, 9 months age statement. Non-chill filtered. LARCENY BARREL PROOF A124 Similar to the ECBP, Larceny Barrel Proof displays a rich, dark mahogany color (Pantone 160). The aroma is warm and welcoming, with notes of butterscotch and caramel, hot chocolate, and a hint of cooling Chinese five-spice. A light, smooth glycerol sensation coats the mouth, accompanied by sweet vanilla. There are no harsh notes, and the alcohol is well-integrated. The finish reveals elements of Nutella, oak, and espresso, with the hot chocolate returning, providing good duration. The LBP A124 is quite good. It's slightly more affordable than its older counterpart, ECBP, and can be found for around $70. Will I buy it again? Yes. Like the ECBP, I seek out all three annual releases. 4.5. 124.2 proof. 6-8 year age statement. Non-chill filtered. CONCLUSION The goal of these Showdowns isn't necessarily to pick winners and losers, but rather to serve as an intellectual exercise exploring the contextual aspects of bourbon characteristics: spirits of all kinds will taste different when compared to others. (This approach was taken to an extreme by a reviewer when they sampled all the bourbons in their Top 100 for 2023 in one sitting—not recommended, even when spitting, which they did. But I'm getting off track). Generally, the LBP offers more warmth, depth, and richness than the ECBP. It's close to being truly exceptional. For the A124 release, I favor it over the ECBP—despite their different mash bills. Fortunately, the LBP hasn't yet reached the same level of popularity as ECBP among bourbon enthusiasts, making it somewhat easier to find (and cheaper). All spirits were tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Color: Medium Copper-Amber. Nose: Wonderful! Molasses or perhaps maple? I can never quite identify it. There's something similar to "citrus." The faintest hint of "alcohol." An excellent nose that sets a good expectation for the palate... Palate: From the very first sip, you experience a significant burst of spice... yes... it's very spice-forward. It comes across as slightly hotter than some higher proofs I've encountered. A mild warmth spreads through the chest but dissipates rather quickly. It's mildly sweet... I'm detecting a good amount of barrel char. I've always preferred "sweet" over "spicy." However, I'm finding this quite enjoyable. It's intensely woody and spicy. Almost "bitter," but not in an unpleasant way. I'm waiting for the profile to develop further as the ice melts into it, but it's maintaining its spice-forward character. Let's see what the second pour reveals... Pour #2 begins quite similarly to the first. Still a spice bomb. I've seen others mention "butterscotch," but I'm not detecting that - at least not tonight. There hasn't been much "change" to speak of from the second pour. So perhaps this one isn't going to evolve. Finish: I'd describe it as a medium finish, with the dominant spice taking center stage. Final Thoughts: Okay. This is a challenging one. EC has consistently impressed me in the past. Alongside the 94 Proof "standard," I've had the B522, B523, and the highly acclaimed C923. I've enjoyed them all. I'm going to classify this as "good." I'm not blown away, but I'm also not going to criticize it. Knowing what I know now, would I pay more than the very reasonable price I paid for it? No. I actually acquired it for less than its typical market price. So, that alone makes it a worthwhile acquisition. I'll be interested to see if it does eventually develop and "open up" with subsequent pours. But as of tonight, it receives a 3.75. Added 8/24: I've nearly finished my bottle of A124. I've genuinely enjoyed the four glasses I've poured tonight. It's a very "robust" bourbon. There are flavors within its profile that I'm finding difficult to specify without simply guessing. "Spice" and "Oak" are the primary characteristics here. It's a fine batch, and I'm increasing my initial rating of 3.75 to 4.0.

A124, the most recent ECBP release, is the youngest yet. Does it deserve the criticism? Let's see. The aroma is certainly subdued, with candied orange, minerals, cinnamon, berry, sweet corn, and not much else. Pesky ethanol keeps interfering and worsening things. It's not an auspicious start. (After some time, the mineral note disappeared, and the ethanol lessened. Peculiar.) Fortunately, the palate improves significantly, offering butterscotch, black cherry, mellow aged oak, nutmeg, tobacco, and brown sugar. The flavors are less intense than I'm accustomed to from this expression, but they are also well-integrated and balanced. The finish becomes even better with caramel, vanilla cream, cinnamon sugar, burnt sugar from crème brûlée, white pepper, chocolate, oak, mint, leather, and barrel char. It's a great combination of sweet and spicy notes, lasting a bit longer than medium. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied with a slight effervescence that actually works well here. To be clear, this is not a lesser release; it's just different. While ECBP often overwhelms, this one is refined. It comes across more as a daily sipper than a special occasion bottle, and while that's a change for the line, it's not a negative in my opinion. Anyone claiming this is bad because it lacks a 12+ year age statement is mistaken. At $89.99, there's little to criticize, especially since I've spent more for less. Bring on B524.

I wasn't intending to try this bourbon tonight. There was one serving left of my Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof 118.4, and it tasted hot, so I wanted to compare it to a bourbon with a similar ABV (almost identical at 119.0). The nose shows aromas of caramel, pomander, cool spearmint, and Cracker Jack, as well as a savory, slightly salty peanut note that I didn't notice in my previous tasting (3/27/24). It has a rounded texture on the palate, with more caramel on the finish, and a pleasant warming Kentucky Hug. The alcohol is very well integrated. While this ECBP isn't as intricate as past releases, it is nevertheless well-balanced and smooth, with good flavor depth. The ECBP A124 received some criticism upon release, due to the relatively low 10 years, 9 months age statement—less than the 12 years of previous ECBP offerings, and significantly lower than the 13+ years of the C923 that came just before it. If tasted blind and setting that aside, it wouldn't make a difference. This is a very good bourbon. Overall, ECBP is one of my favorite bourbons, and I make an effort to get at least one of each of the three yearly releases. Would I purchase it again? Yes. 4.25.

Happy New Year. The cost of living is astronomical, owning property is a distant dream, and my old car will have to suffice for another decade. Yet, one would hope the essence of bourbon remains constant. Wait a minute... ECBP is no longer aged 12 years? And the proof is now below 120? We all must adapt to evolving circumstances, but that doesn't mean compromising on quality. These are challenging times, and we must simply face them. Nose - A familiar bouquet of Heaven Hill's signature vanilla and sweet corn, complemented by a subtle spice from the aging warehouse. Initially straightforward. Palate - Full-bodied, though tending towards tartness and a drying sensation. Subsequently, the finish delivers a powerful, smoky oak character... not terrible, but distinct. Let's add some water. Ah, this brings back the classic ECBP profile! Nutty, decadent, smooth, with a mild smokiness, and the quintessential vanilla caramel notes alongside subtle hints of leather and wood. This is another unremarkable ECBP offering. Anyone celebrating this expression is overlooking a decline from previous years; they're simply being alarmist. This bottle isn't essential, but you'll appreciate having it if you're a bourbon enthusiast. I paid $75 using 500 reward points. Considering the points used, it doesn't particularly impress me, but I have no regrets! I'm uncertain if I'm adhering to my own benchmarks, but a score of 2.75 seems appropriate. Range: 2.5-2.75.