Elijah Craig Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon (Private Label)

ELIJAH CRAIG PRIVATE BARREL SHOWDOWN ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8-year age statement Barrel Serial # 6653214 120.7 proof Vs. Bevmax Private Barrel (BVPB) -------------------------------------- 9-year age statement Barrel serial # 6205648 127.7 proof TWPB Pantone 160 in color. Smells of BBQ sauce, bacon, maple syrup, brown sugar, and a dusty character, plus some mild, cooling spearmint. No heat on the nose, but that changes significantly on the palate, where everything intensifies. Plenty of spice leads to a somewhat long finish with vanilla notes. The overall impression is unbalanced, like a gangly teenager or big-pawed puppy still growing into its frame. 3.5 out of 5 stars. BVPB Pantone 167; more russet than the TWPB. A completely different aroma: much smoother, with buttery maple-syrup pancakes, pomander, crème brûlée. On the palate, some sweet corn is present; the 127.7 proof is noticeable, but is better integrated than the TWBP's lower proof, and is more like the older 12-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP) bottlings, though not quite as strong and smooth overall. 4.0 out of 5 stars. This "showdown" is somewhat of an unfair comparison, even though both are Elijah Craig private barrels. Two distinct barrels, two different age statements, two unique selectors. While the 9-year-old in this instance (BVPB) is better than the 8-year-old (TWPB), I can't tell if the difference is solely due to age. Standard ECBP bottlings are proofed at 12 years, and neither of these measure up to the typical ECBP bottling. If anything, this comparison highlights the variation that exists between individual barrels and years. The difference is considerable. The financial aspect for the distillers also can't be overlooked: who knows the actual barrel selection process? Did Heaven Hill reserve the leftovers, and market them as "pick the best one as you see fit?" We might never know. What is clear is that barrels and years are two of many factors that create a substantial difference. Note: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

A Total Wine and More selection, 125.1 proof, 11 years old. Sweet and spicy nose with allspice, nutmeg, powdered sugar, honey, ginger, nougat, vanilla cream, and a Snickers bar. While I was writing this before my first sip, a berry note suddenly appeared. The ethanol is well-controlled. Wow. The palate is much woodier and more astringent than the nose suggested. Sour cherries, oak, caramel, dark chocolate, sweet corn, buttered toast, and berry. The flavors are sharp and "tight," if that makes sense. The lingering finish brings more sourness (almost like gummy worms), furniture polish, astringent oak, cherry cough syrup, black pepper, cinnamon, the dark chocolate from the palate, and barrel char. The mouthfeel is the thinnest and grainiest I've ever experienced in an ECBP product, almost watery, resulting in an unpleasant prickly sensation felt only on the sides of the tongue. This is... not good. All prickles and sting. Strangely sour, and let me tell you, sour is NOT a note I enjoy in my whiskey. Did someone actually pick this and think "this is the one"?!? I believe I paid $79.99 for this, and it's barely better than something to pour down the drain. I'll stick to the standard yearly releases and avoid these "private barrel strength" options going forward. A major letdown.

From The Party Source pick Barrel No. 7015341 60.4% ABV; 120.8 proof 10 years old Opened 2 months Nose - Rich caramel, toasted marshmallow, spicy cinnamon bun, pine needle, nutmeg, clove, cardamom, sweet and heavy oak, with moderate ethanol. Palate - Cinnamon-heavy bread pudding, creme brulee, vanilla bean, dark honey, and milk chocolate. The finish is long with sweet oak, sweet tobacco, baking spices, toffee, and moderate ethanol. Another excellent selection from The Party Source. It was quite popular over the Thanksgiving holiday. I have acquired 12 private picks of this expression since the program began, aged between 8-10 years and ranging from 115.9-132.1 proof. I've tracked this in a spreadsheet and can't find a pattern linking proof or age to my overall ratings. Two of my highest ratings (4.5/5 stars) were for a 10-year-old at 115.9 proof and an 8-year-old at 132.1 proof. My two least favorite bottlings, rated below 3 stars, were a 10-year-old at 122.5 proof and an 8-year-old at 127.8 proof. My point is that these private picks are a gamble, regardless of age or proof, but they consistently perform above average.

Bull City Bourbon Club pick, "Ten From The Bullpen" Barrel No. 6179022 Warehouse Q; Floor 2 10 years old 57.95% ABV; 115.9 proof Opened 2.5 months Nose - Creme brulee, vanilla cake, peanut butter, dark chocolate, cantaloupe, graham cracker, moderate oak, and moderate ethanol. Palate - Reese's, blueberry muffin, cocoa nibs, gingerbread, grilled peaches, and cinnamon. The finish is medium-long with pleasant oak spice, brown sugar, black pepper, nutmeg, ginger, cocoa powder, and low ethanol. This is the lowest proof ECBP I've tried, yet it's still delightful. It shares similarities with some lower proof ECBP batches I've enjoyed, like C921 and B522. These lower proof ECBPs are dangerously easy to drink compared to MGP cask strength bourbons at similar proofs. Heaven Hill excels at aging these, removing graininess and ensuring the oak barrel doesn't overpower the sugars and fruits. For me, any ECBP pick is a must-buy, even at $80.

OHLQ Exclusive pick Barrel No. 6783784 8 years old 63.65% abv; 127.3 proof Opened 6 months Nose - Charred caramel, toasted marshmallow, rye spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cigar smoke, oak char, and potent ethanol. Palate - Toffee, caramel, dark chocolate, cinnamon syrup, black pepper, rye bread, vanilla bean, and oak extract. The finish is medium-long with heavy oak char, black pepper, aged tobacco, toffee, and moderate ethanol. Another good ECBP pick, but not exceptional. Consistently, these 8 and 9 year old single barrels rival or surpass the older batch releases. I'm often surprised by how accessible these are compared to the batches. The only significant difference now is a slight price increase depending on your location.

Texas Mart 2023 Pick - 9 years old, bottled at 121.1 proof First Pour After Opening Nose: The familiar vanilla and cinnamon spice notes are present, but there's also a noticeable hint of mint. Allowing it to breathe reveals more sweetness and a strong peanut brittle aroma. It's considerably more complex than other private barrels I've tasted. Palate: As expected with this expression, it begins with a burst of spice, and the peanut brittle flavor emerges within that explosion. An earthy or herbal quality is also detectable. The finish is exceptionally long and nutty. This is by far the best private pick of this expression I've ever had. I'm extremely pleased to have secured a bottle and look forward to revisiting it after a few weeks to see if it improves.