Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Barrel Proof

Within the last 6 months or so, Heaven Hill distillery has offered a special Barrel Proof version of the Elijah Craig 12 YO Bourbon. Twelve years is enough time for a bourbon to develop considerable alcohol content, and the three releases of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof I have seen thus far, at 67.1%, 68.5%, and 66.6% certainly qualify as being at a high intensity of concentration of flavours and alcohol. This review is of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, batch # 3, by my informal count, at 66.6% ABV. The reviewed bottle has been open for 5 weeks and is 95% full. I hope to do a review of the Batch # 2 at 68.5% ABV someday when I later open a bottle of it

Colour: it would take a wet dream to get a Scotch this colour

Mouthfeel: very thick and chewy

Nose: heavy thick sweet maple, not unlike some of the best Canadian whiskies, e.g. Danfield's 21 YO; vanilla and natural caramel from the wood; some floral elements of carnation and rose; spice which is potent, but not as strong as the wood flavours; rich and full-bodied

Taste: strong and very pointed flavours in the mouth, both the wood flavours and the rye spice flavours. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 66.6% is very thick and syrupy, like a thick reduction of maple syrup. This is quite sweet, with a balance from the sour, as is typical of American whiskeys. The baking spices from rye grain of cloves, nutmeg, cassia/cinnamon are quite strong on the palate. This is a VERY BIG WHISKEY

Finish: those flavours will just linger on your tongue for a very very long time

Balance: these have to be the top notch barrels selected for Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. New wood flavours are the dominant element here, and this batch definitely goes to the sweet side, but there is nothing cloying or offensive about it. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a very big bourbon experience, and I highly recommend it. US suggested retail at $ 39.99 is almost too good to be true. There is no other bourbon available in the US or elsewhere at over 65% ABV sold for any price close to this. May Heaven Hill expand production and distribution of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and maintain this incredible price for it. At this quality and at this price, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof will be a very worthy competitor to Booker's Small Batch Bourbon, by Jim Beam

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