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Elmer T Lee Single Barrel

Southbound Pachyderm

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@cricklewoodReview by @cricklewood

24th Dec 2020

0

Elmer T Lee Single Barrel
  • Nose
    23
  • Taste
    21
  • Finish
    22
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    89

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

From what I believe to be a 2018 edition, this was part of a bottle split that was decanted and given to me by a friend.

Elmer T. Lee hails from Buffalo Trace Mashbill #2, the very same one that is responsible for Ancient age, Rock Hill farms and the now fever inducing Blanton's.

Nose: A touch spirity at first but not distracting, supple old oak, leather, tobacco, a touch of apples/plums. Pecans, hints of bbq pork and loads of brown sugar. Harmonious is the word that comes to mind.

Palate: Spicy, floral, leather, honey lemon lozenges and buttered bread. It does move into astringent territory but it's a welcome break from the richness.

Finish: Dry is the key word, dried fruit, dried flowers, dry oak. It's all the stuff from the nose and palate.

Blab: Silky, balanced, rich. This bourbon treads in familiar territory, you won't be surprised by what you taste here but it's all excellent. The proof is just right delivering enough punch but making it accessible and easily sippable.

I'd totally enjoy having a bottle of this. Is it worth chasing down and paying mad secondary price? I'll leave that up to you but I won't partake.

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7 comments

@Victor
Victor commented

@cricklewood thank you for your review.

Very nice bourbon, and much nicer still 10 years ago at $ 24 per 750 ml. The price for popularity is losing value for money in the competitive bidding market. When whisk(e)y was OUT there was great value for money in many places. Not so much so now.

I am glad that I have a bottle and a fraction of ET Lee Bourbon remaining on hand.

3 years ago 3Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@Victor at that price I'm sure in hindsight we'd all snap some up. A really lovely whisky that's unobtainable at this point.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Victor
Victor commented

@cricklewood yes, it is sad that so many of these products just cannot be obtained at a reasonable price now. It is nothing short of unbelievable that the Van Winkle 10 year olds which I purchased for under $ 30 each 10 years ago now ask $ 800+ on the secondary market. To be sure, those bottles were never common then, but when they could be had the price was sometimes quite modest.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

@RianC
RianC commented

@cricklewood - Nice review of a bourbon that sounds right up my alley. Like you though, I won't be chasing a bottle.

On a tangent, if I may? I wonder what will happen with whisky prices next year, and moving forwards, as we see the economic effects of CV19 really start to dig in. Will distilleries favour the premium market (and higher prices) or will they appeal to the more affordable range? I suspect tough times for the new distilleries in particular.

3 years ago 2Who liked this?

@paddockjudge
paddockjudge commented

@cricklewood, Nice review!

I like ETL and have had my fill over the years.

The question that comes to mind, who is selecting the ETL barrels?

I would be agreeable to a h2h of juice supposedly selected by Elmer himself and a posthumous release selected by the replacement selector. Perhaps we should compare?

3 years ago 3Who liked this?

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

Nice review and a really nice bourbon. I paid $45-$50 for my bottle and I feel like that’s a fair price. I rated it about the same as you did. Oh, and I love the Primus reference!

3 years ago 1Who liked this?

@cricklewood
cricklewood commented

@RianC I am curious about whisky prices as well. I know that when it comes to bourbon people have lost their minds. Things as common as Eagle rare are selling out overnight. People are side hustling every last slightly desirable bourbon and I can't begrudge them clearly there are some deluded souls who are paying those secondary prices. This bubble will have to burst at one point.

As for spirits in general there's definitely a push towards premiumization but that also will be interesting to watch with the number of new distilleries coming online and others who's products are hitting the right ages for release. It's a subject worthy of its own thread.

3 years ago 3Who liked this?