Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A125

The smell is strong and bold, with notes of tobacco, leather, allspice, oak, pumpernickel rye bread, and a faint hint of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, though it's decidedly more savory than sweet. The ethanol is a bit bothersome for the relatively low proof of this “barrel proof” whiskey. The taste is nearly identical to the aroma, so to avoid repetition, refer to the above. Fortunately, there are some added notes of dried apple, black cherry, and caramel. The flavors are potent. The finish is long and complex, significantly enhancing the experience with more leather, cigar, dry oak, cinnamon powder, barrel char, peanut shell, and dried prune. The mouthfeel is excellent; full-bodied enough to be chewy, and very oily. A slight departure for the brand, as this expression reduces sweetness and instead emphasizes dry and savory characteristics. However, there's sufficient sweetness and complexity to maintain balance. Is this among the best Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases? No. Is it still good? Yes. Is it worth the $89.99 I paid? Absolutely. Keep them coming.

Appears very thick in the glass, a quick swirl completely coats it. Great aroma, brown sugar, apple, caramel, spice-forward with cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice, and a hint of leather as well. The palate isn't initially as intricate, presenting hot pepper, prunes, and bittersweet chocolate. The finish is substantial on the tongue, highlighting the bitter chocolate. I broke up some ice and dropped a couple of small pieces in, giving it a quick swirl. This introduced the fruit from the aroma and removed the bitter sensation, while allowing the spice to emerge in the form of clove. The finish is shorter, naturally, but very pleasant. I will be enjoying this bottle in a rocks glass.

Serve it over ice and enjoy. The flavor notes mentioned by others are noticeable (I've included the same notes here). As the professional reviewer pointed out, the alcohol can overpower the flavors, but I believe that's true for most barrel-proof options (yes, even C923). A little water or ice will help. If you do it at the right moment, it won't become too diluted.

Not bad. Still too much nuttiness for my preference. Black pepper appears when water is added. It bears some resemblance to Wild Turkey Rare Breed, but isn't as good. I long for the days of sweet, delicious, oaky Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs; these just aren't measuring up. This will likely end up being used for Old Fashioned cocktails.

A little hot and spicy on the palate. A good pour, but not as exceptional as most releases.

Enjoyable and tasty, with a satisfying burn as it goes down.