Elijah Craig A125 Barrel Proof Review: Is This the Best Batch Yet?

Steve Coomes -

BOTTLE DETAILS

STEVE'S NOTES

SHARE WITH: Any bourbon fan, especially those who have accumulated multiple releases of this thrice-annual bourbon treat. Also, share it with people who might think barrel-strength whiskey is too hot. This will convince them otherwise.

WORTH THE PRICE: Doubtless, especially given market prices for much younger, less complex, flavorful bourbon.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle.

OVERALL: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is the bourbon reviewers love to rate. There is no bad release in this line. Happiness prevails when the UPS driver brings this baby home. No one ever regrets buying a bottle of ECBP because it always delivers, never disappoints and always makes people smile when you pour them some. There are no disappointments here, no Mark Andrews goal-line fumbles (yeah, I know, lots of snow, Lamar made him stretch), no Medina Spirit Kentucky Derby DQs (true, the race track was swamp sloppy), it just shows up, eyes the pommel horse at a distance and rips off some tripledy-back-twist-cartwheel maneuver guaranteed to garner a high 9 or, in some cases (such as the legendary A517) a perfect 10.

But even at this best-of-best heights, it's inevitable that some are better than others. Not all can reign supreme, and this is one of those 9s. Oh, for shame, right? A mere 9? Yes, a mere 9. But, the judges are saying, that 9 ranks so far above so many.

So why not a 10?

Well, the nose is fantastic: confectioner's sugar, medium caramel, long soaked oak, nougat, fried donut, smoke (borderline bacon in there, I tell ya), vanilla taffy, some lemon poundcake and dried orange. Just hateful stuff, right? Who'd want to nose that? I'd continue doing just that, but we drink whiskey in Bourbon Banter reviews, so here goes.

The mouthfeel is silken, medium bodied and delivers multiple waves of nougat and milk chocolate. Up front, its 118 proof is tingly and invigorating, but down the hatch it's syrupy, warm and pleasant. Happiness! Chuggable would be a horrible word to use since we encourage no such behavior with whiskey, but it does glide effortlessly across every surface, leaving trails of melted chocolate, cocoa and a little espresso in its wake.

Still wondering why I didn't give it a 10? Calling me a Russian judge at this point? (Spare me that one, for I have no love for vodka, but Beluga caviar? Da, comrade!) I prefer bigger, rounder, bolder and older ECBPs. To me, those are the standard bearers for this brand, the muscular shot putters and weightlifters positioned up front and carrying the Heaven Hill flag into the cutthroat battlefield of a liquor store. I love them for their weight, their breadth and their bottom–that deep and inexplicable depth found almost exclusively in whiskeys allowed to snooze limitlessly like a blue collar lottery winner.

This is a fantastic bourbon. It has everything you could ask or expect from a bourbon. To think that any whiskey producer releases bottles at half this age and pricing it higher ... really? People buy those? Why? Buy this and you'll be happy with your high 9. It's a stone-cold bargain in this market.

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Don't forget to explore our previous reviews of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases.

BRAND NOTES

Uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering, the nose, taste and finish are preserved in their simplest form. At full barrel proof, you can enjoy Elijah Craig much the same way our master distillers do when they sample straight from the barrel in our Kentucky rickhouses. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a bold and honest expression of what charred oak barrel aging can do for Bourbon, from the man who originated the process.

Proof: Varies by Release
Age: Varies by Release

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.