Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B522

Not sure why, but several boxes of this have been sitting in a local store for a few months, and at a reasonable price of $68. Also not sure why I've passed this by a number of times and bought something else. I finally decided to pick one up half-expecting them to be gone, but it seemed that only a couple bottles had been purchased since the last time I was in. This does seem to benefit from about 15 minutes of air before sipping. If you let it breathe for a bit, the nose rewards you with caramel-glazed cherry and some sweet oak lingering in the background. The palate brings caramel, vanilla, peanut brittle, pipe tobacco. The finish has some cinnamon and spice, and maybe a smidge too much tannic oak for my liking, but overall I'm pleased. I don't think this is one of the better releases, but it's still very good and remains a great deal at the $68 I paid - even though it's about $10 more than I paid for my last bottle a little over a year ago. It's also better than a private barrel I had. It's interesting how the woody notes persist even as the bottle depletes; a little bit of a younger bourbon can tame it, though. I'm currently having a dram with a small amount of a 5-year-old barely legal rye, and it really hits the spot now.

The strong aroma is equally sweet, nutty, and woody, featuring praline, peanut shell, rich oak, cashew, vanilla, toffee, and caramel. The ethanol presence indicates barrel proof, but it's acceptably low overall. On the palate, this release is "sweet-forward" for an ECBP: vanilla, toffee, and caramel from the nose, alongside marshmallow, black cherry, cinnamon roll, and red delicious apple. The flavors are rich and potent, as anticipated. The extended finish offers pleasant balancing spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, along with peanut brittle, oak, tobacco, and ginger. The black cherry from the palate persists long after other notes fade, which is delightful. The mouthfeel is pleasingly slick and oily, but only medium-bodied, when a thicker, chewier texture would be more fitting. A minor imperfection. It's great to encounter an ECBP that leans towards the sweeter spectrum. The essential point here is that these releases typically deliver a premium experience at a fair price, and this is no exception. At $89.99, repurchasing is a no-brainer (though I likely won't find another bottle, but let's imagine).

Shared with a large ice ball... Wow! Initially, the aroma presents a strong hit of alcohol, followed by oak, a sweet leather scent, and allspice. The taste is woody with spice and smoke (reminiscent of "campfire"), leading to a warming sensation that lingers for a few moments. Dark cherries and some sweetness emerge, with an additional burst of spice hitting the middle of the palate. The finish is extended, with an unexpected and welcome note of buttery Sara Lee pound cake! This limited release is hazardous; if you develop a fondness for it, finding more can be difficult and/or costly. This is one of those bottles. I would definitely get another if I could find it at the suggested retail price. If it's under $100, grab it! A solid 4.25 stars!

Opened 3 months ago Nose - Caramel, toasted marshmallow, cinnamon bun, allspice, moderate oak, and light ethanol. Palate - Caramel and brown sugar, light vanilla frosting, light gingerbread, light tobacco, and light oak. The finish is medium-short with drier oak tannins, vanilla, cinnamon, caramel, light rye spice, and light ethanol. This might be the most straightforward expression from this brand I've had, and I find it hard to detect subtle nuances in the flavors. But I don't think that's a negative, considering the batches released over the past two years. This particular batch is very drinkable. It's similar to a previous batch but even simpler and sweeter. I believe if you were introducing someone to barrel proof spirits, this would be an excellent choice. It's a nice alternative to the dry, strong, and oak-forward previous batches.

Mahogany hue. The aroma is sweet, led by maraschino cherry syrup, alongside some crushed walnut, brown sugar, and honey. It has a rich, full-bodied, somewhat slick texture. The taste profile is more complex than the aroma, featuring notes of butterscotch, dark chocolate, walnuts, charred cinnamon stick, powdered nutmeg, leather, and abundant sweet oak. The finish is lengthy, warm, and dry, with additional butterscotch, charred cinnamon stick, subtle cherries, and oak. All in all, a quality offering. The aroma is misleadingly sweet, while the spirit itself feels hotter than its stated proof and is quite potent.

The aroma offers notes of caramel cream, nutmeg, clove, candied pecans, and cinnamon. A strong presence of oak cask harmonizes the components. On tasting, these elements reappear, joined by cocoa, roasted coffee, aged leather, and a gentle spice. The oak once more unifies the distinct flavors. The lingering finish presents fading tastes of caramel hard candies, chocolate-covered cherries, and a hint of black licorice. Overall, a very sweet, confection-like pour, with ample traditional bourbon character to satisfy nearly any enthusiast of the spirit.