Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C920

Rating: 15/23 Nose: A surprising, light cinnamon roll scent initially, with a moderate layer of that classic Cinnabon icing. A bit of tart yeastiness. That's about all. After a couple of minutes, some sour mash bitterness starts to come through. I begin to detect light notes of polished wood. This is still a very light nose. A little earthiness with some turmeric, then some light wood with tannins and spices. Unfortunately, I'm no longer getting the cinnamon roll. The nose is still pretty light, but less enjoyable. It's still perfectly usable though. Palate: This combines the lightness and burn that sometimes affect Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches into a profile that I'm really not enjoying. I do get wood and spices and some bittersweet chocolate, but I also get copper pennies, even early on. The cinnamon rolls are absent here. Wow, those copper pennies are overwhelming. They mask the bitterness and yeasty funk of the sour mash and also the wood. Finish: Bitterness. Copper pennies are unavoidable, but there's a bit more wood now. The spices also get a little more time here, and the chocolate returns for a brief encore. - Conclusion - This is just a rough release that isn't meeting the usual quality of this brand. It's still a good bourbon, but it's not up to the standard it should be. Resilient 15 (18/23) surpasses this with less bitterness and its unusual flavors limited to minerality. The Resilient is sweeter and more enjoyable with much less burn. This isn't really more complex either. And it's certainly not more balanced. I might consider it a 17, but that would be a stretch. My cask strength bottling of Garrison Brothers Single Barrel (15/23) is quite similar in quality. It's richer and smoother. Sure, it isn't quite as complex, but it's not that far off, and this is really rough. I'm actually thinking this might be worse. So what about regular Elijah Craig Small Batch (15/23)? Well, it certainly tastes younger. It's sweeter and more fun, with minimal challenge. It's in the same category as Knappogue Castle 12 for just relaxing with a glass. This, however, is challenging. I like a challenge sometimes. This isn't one of those times. This is more like challenging for the sake of being challenging. I admit the comparison with regular Elijah Craig is a bit difficult due to the proof difference, but the Garrison Brothers also seems potentially better, so this might be a 14. Russell's Reserve 10 (15-16/23) is lighter than this in a way that makes it seem slightly watery, but it's complex with good (though stylized) balance. The Russell's also doesn't burn nearly as much as this does. I'm inclined to say the Russell's is a bit better. I would take this over either of the Larceny Barrel Proofs I've tried any day, so there's no way this is as low as a 13. Elijah Craig C920 was pretty much guaranteed to be a letdown, especially following the amazing B520. That said, this isn't just a letdown in comparison; it's a fairly low point for the Elijah Craig line. It's a 14 or a 15, which is just shameful. My current inclination is to give this a 15, but I can imagine the burn bringing it down to a 14. Thanks to a friend for sharing this one!

The smell leads with cooked bananas, tart cherries, flapjacks prepared in bacon grease and a worn glove, then chocolate-covered hazelnuts and newly lit pipe tobacco. This is followed by sautéed spiced apples, lemon confections and orange peel, then ginger, spearmint, anise, cloves and mildly bitter black tea with a strong alcohol burn. The flavor has a medium body, starting with cooked bananas, tart cherries, flapjacks prepared in bacon grease and a worn glove. Then, a moderate to high bitter and sour spice gradually fades into a spicy mocha and newly lit pipe tobacco. This is followed by sautéed spiced apples, lemon pith and orange peel, then ginger, spearmint, anise, cloves and over-steeped black tea with a strong alcohol burn. The finish is medium in length with a mild black pepper spice, cocoa nibs, tart cherries, lemon zest, cloves, spearmint, leather and ashy oak. Overall, another enjoyable Elijah Craig bottling, though a significant step down from the B520. The typical bourbon characteristics are amplified by the alcohol content, but the fruit notes are on the tart side, along with a bitter black tea flavor and a harsh spice that overpowers much of the palate, finishing with a bitter and sour blend. I tend to notice sour and bitter tastes more than most people, which unbalanced this one for me, but I can see how someone less sensitive to those flavors might find much to appreciate here. Many thanks to a friend for the generous sample.

The aroma has dark fruit, toffee, caramel, vanilla, oak, char, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, and allspice. There's some ethanol, but less than expected. On the palate, two words: smoked fruits. If that sounds appealing, it is. Plum, cherry, and grape go through a smoker. But that's not all; there's also salted caramel, vanilla ice cream, and peanut brittle. Richness and complexity are abundant. The finish arrives gently with all the palate flavors still present, adding oak, maple, pink peppercorn, and more smoky notes, almost like a backyard barbecue. Don't let that description deter you; it's very subtle and well-integrated. It's definitely in the 'long' category, but not extraordinarily so. The mouthfeel is also a bit unique; syrupy and coating at first, but finishes with a drying sensation. Full disclosure: all tasting notes were taken with a splash of water, as it's otherwise too aggressive to discern all the nuances. However, you don't need to be a scientist to enjoy it; just add a splash, as seemingly any amount of water opens it up significantly. One of the best ECBP I've had (out of five) and easily ranks with Stagg Jr. At $70, ECBP is consistently one of the best values available, a secret I hope remains hidden because I'd hate to see it become allocated. Looking forward to A121.

Neat. Neck pour. B520 is one of my favorite pours of the year, top 3 in my favorite of 2020 based on a recent blind tasting. I heard many people like C920 even more. So highly anticipated here. Sweet oak leads the nose and it is very pleasant. Drenched in royal icing. Hints of chocolate and peanut butter. I'm getting this bright, fresh eucalyptus - not a note I associate with ECBP. There is a metallic note too. Neck pour on this is hot. Going to need to wait a week before blind tasting against B520... Thick and syrupy texture, all brown sugar, cinnamon, and royal icing on the tongue. Very sweet. And hot. It’s all chocolate and peanut butter mid-palate. Transitions to a peanut brittle and leaves with the oak. Oak turns a bit tannic on the tail end of the finish but just drying and not off-putting. Huge Kentucky hug building too. Just oily and slow running all the way down. Delicious, but this is no B520 from memory. I think A120 left a stronger impression too. It’s a good pour, but it’s not a contender that can compete with $150-$200 bottles like B520.

Opened for 4 weeks Nose - Thick, rich brown sugar and cinnamon, dark chocolate, artificial cherry, snickerdoodles and gingerbread, light corn dust, surprisingly light oak and alcohol. Palate - This is thick sugary syrup on the tongue. Maple cinnamon candy, crème brulee, chocolate-covered cherries, almost no hint of alcohol. Finish is long and oily, sweet oak, light cherry mint (resembles cough drops), and finally the proof makes its presence known. This is another outstanding ECBP batch, tied with B520 as my favorite ECBP releases so far (I've tried 5 to date). There may not be a better value in high proof bourbon. I've never sampled any BTAC product, but it's increasingly frustrating and amusing the lengths people go to find and pay for BTAC when this is widely available. Is barrel proof Stagg, Weller, or EH Taylor that much better? I'll likely never know at this rate, but I believe I'll be content acquiring 3 ECBPs annually.

Deep, reddish-amber color, very viscous. Nose: notes of baking spices, toffee, mint, tart fruit, and a musty rye character. Evokes cacao-dusted pecans and a Mexican mocha. Deglet noor dates. Even with a generous addition of water, considerable heat remains. Dry oak, abundant spices (clove), and more burnt caramel. Long finish notes emerge more clearly with additional water: cinnamon, chocolate, and toasted coconut. This is an excellent demonstration of a whiskey that improves with added water. It's substantial and intricate, yet almost excessively bright, hot, and acidic for my taste. Re-tasted a third time... Detected fruit this time. Tart berries or cherries... I also get the brown sugar. Considering my other ratings of 3.75 and 4, this must be rated a 4. It's immense, vibrant, and possesses an incredibly extended finish. While it might not be my top choice, it unquestionably merits a 4.