A little background

When Elijah Craig dropped the 12yr age statement there was an audible moan of disappointment amongst the whiskey enthusiasts, but luckily Heaven Hill kept the 12yr age on its Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (ECBP) releases. Released three times a year the ECBP batches started number each batch starting in 2017; this batch is numbered B518 (B=second release of the year, 5=May, and 18=2018). ECBP batch B518 comes in at 133.4⁰ and a retail price of $60-65.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn.)

Color in the glass

Mahogany (thick slow forming legs)

Nose

Did someone say oak? Strong oak leads the way with quintessential bourbon notes of caramel and vanilla. The proof shows itself as an intense cinnamon/Big Red Gum…some ginger as well. Very little fruit but with some searching Plum peeks out at the tail end.

Palate

Strong barrel influence merges with vanilla to create a crème brûlée. This continues onto the mid palate where it starts to give way to nutmeg, clove, and brown sugar that transitions to dark cocoa covered almonds.

Finish

Dark and Savory…think smoked brisket. Bitter dark chocolate. Medium to long in duration with a moderate warming in the chest.

In closing

I am a huge fan of ECBP and have made a point to buy at least one bottle of each batch since the bottle change at the start of 2017. I like big bold oaky bourbons and it checks all those boxes. Despite this not being the newest batch it is still fairly accessible at the time of writing (December 2018) and it is my favorite batch since the bottle change and that includes Whisky Advocate’s 2017 Whiskey of the Year Winner Batch B517. If you see it on the shelf and can afford it then buy it, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.