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Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Barrel Proof

Heaven Hill Takes On Booker's

0 1091

@VictorReview by @Victor

22nd Oct 2013

0

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Barrel Proof
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    23
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    91

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Many thanks to @Nock for the reviewed sample. Note that there are at least 2 batches of Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof released to date, this 67.1% ABV one and one at 68.5% ABV. The reviewed bottle has been open 2 months, and is approximately half empty.

Colour: high ABV bourbon is extremely dark in colour. Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof is one of the darkest whiskeys you will ever see

Nose: intense maplewood, cinnamon, confectioner's sugar, molasses. Sweet with a sour balance. Very light alcohol greeting for a 67.1% ABV bourbon. This is very very nice

Taste: lovely translation of the flavours from the nose, manifesting in a lush rich way

Finish: very long, intense, very maply finish, continuing very rich and lush. There is plenty of strength here, but this is not at all overpowering

Balance: this is a GREAT addition to the bourbon repertoire. So far this is a special release allocated whiskey. Hopefully the rumours are true and Heaven Hill will continue Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof as a regular periodic offering. If the current USA suggested retail price is maintained at $ 40 plus tax then Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof will also continue to be one of the very best buys in the world of American whiskey

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10 comments

@Bigtuna
Bigtuna commented

Granted I can find a bottle how would you compare this to Bookers? It's been awhile since I've had the regular 12, but I remember it being a little to bitter for my liking. However, my tastes have changed a lot since then.

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Bigtuna, the Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof which I have had has been far superior, not just in potency, but in everything about the flavours, compared to all of the standard Elijah Craig 12 YO which I have tasted. I assume this is because of superior barrel selection for the launch of a new premium product line. I am not a big fan of standard EC12, but I am of this new Barrel Proof 12.

Comparing to Booker's, the styles are somewhat different, both very nice. I would describe the EC12BP as being more lush and rich than I would describe Booker's. Booker's has great strong flavours, which are very vivid and, in my experience, pointed. EC12BP is more like lying on a very lush carpet. Depending on mood, I could prefer either one of them to the other.

11 years ago 0

@Bigtuna
Bigtuna commented

Thanks for the quick comparison. If the EC barrel proof is there I will have to pick it up. I had it in my mine the next bottle of bourbon I was going purchase was going to be Bookers until I read your and Nock's reviews.

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

Nothing wrong with Booker's either.

11 years ago 0

@Nock
Nock commented

Fantastic review! Very glad to get your notes on the bottle (order is now restored in my mental state having extremely similar takes on this one bottle!). Just know that I would "love" to get a sample of the second batch whenever you get around to cracking yours ;) - provided it never arrives here in Virginia (which I entirely expect).

I certainly hope this is an ongoing addition to the ranks of Heaven Hill. But my guess is the price won't survive. Buy it while you can!

11 years ago 0

L
Lifewaterforce commented

A bourbon i really want to get my hands on! It seems as though Elijah Craig inhibits partially a sort of rum-character as well as a wonderfully complex bourbon nature. Hard version to find these days though.. Thanks for the review Victor

11 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

At least three separate batches of Elijah Craig 12 YO Barrel Proof have now been released. I was able to buy some today at 66.6% ABV just in time for Halloween. It is still quite scarce to find, though.

11 years ago 0

@Nock
Nock commented

Great find @Victor! I am jealous. It seems like only the first batch made it into Virginia. But I will ask about it . . .

11 years ago 0

@Nozinan
Nozinan commented

If it remains at $40 you said?...... I think I paid ~$65 US to a friend who brought it over from Seattle a year and a half or so ago... How much is it now?

7 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@Nozinan, it has been quite two or three years since Elijah Craig (12) Barrel Proof has commonly sold for $ 40 plus tax in the US. If you can find it at all any more $ 65 is a very good price. The last bottle I found- in Albuquerque in late September 2016- was $ 69.95 plus tax I believe.

7 years ago 0