One instantly reached for an ECBP, pulled the cork, closed his eyes and took an extended, affected person sniff. He stated that aroma was precisely the scent of the conflagration that terrible day, after which poured himself a glass.
BOTTLE DETAILS
STEVE’S NOTES
SHARE WITH: Each bourbon drinker, particularly those that like high-proof whiskey, and naturally, any Heaven Hill fan.
WORTH THE PRICE: Want we ask this query? We don’t. Relating to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, the reply is all the time sure. At $74.99, it is unquestionably a price for a bourbon this previous, and its fame precedes it.
BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottles. Yeah, plural. This launch can be extensively accessible, making price having a pair available for associates, birthday items, secreted marriage ceremony reception pours, chilly climate tenting journeys, job promotions, accomplished grasp’s theses, you identify it.
OVERALL: A fast tutorial on Elijah Craig Barrel Proof for individuals who may be new to the lingo. 1. ECBP is the frequent abbreviation for this extremely anticipated thrice-annual launch. Every of three bottles is labeled both with an A, B or C, and every letter is adopted by a 1, 5 or 9 respectively. Within the case of this yr’s releases, all bear the quantity 25 to signify the present yr of 2025.
So an ECBP label bearing “A125” signifies that it’s this yr’s first launch (A), 1 for January, the primary of 12 months, and 25 for the calendar yr. B means this yr’s second launch, 5 is Might, the fifth month, and 25 … you get it now, proper? And that is the place we’re with this assessment: B525.
A number of years in the past I wrote a narrative on the tragic 1996 hearth that consumed seven rickhouses and the unique Heaven Hill Springs Distillery. Once I interviewed a pair of retired firefighters on the scene that day, I introduced just a few Heaven Hill whiskies to make sure a relaxed and pleasurable interview.
One instantly reached for an ECBP, pulled the cork, closed his eyes and took an extended, affected person sniff. He stated that aroma was precisely the scent of the conflagration that terrible day, after which poured himself a glass.
Having merely witnessed that fireplace on dwell TV, I am unable to confirm that is what an absolute distillery catastrophe smells like. However one can think about that the myriad aromas coming from 92,000 barrels set aflame could be preferable to that of, say, a large tire hearth. What I do know is that as I write this, the world round my desk smells like a rickhouse: whiskey-soaked oak, caramel and cooked stone fruit. Nosed instantly from the glass are sweeter notes of cotton sweet and steeped pekoe tea with lemon, adopted by darker aromas of charred wooden and tobacco.
The whiskey is concurrently wealthy and vibrant on the palate, aiming fruit and caramel instantly at middle palate whereas spreading considerable weight and mouthfeel in all places else. A second sip units a basis of toasted oak, citrus and sweetened tea on which flavors of toasted bread, orange marmalade and candied violets pile up. (Have not tasted candied violets? Think about a candy, powdered grape flavored sweet that is paper skinny and crunchy.) The end is tremendous lengthy and practically all heat caramel and sweetened tea till the very finish when floral notes arrive. Its softness belies its 126.2 proof, and its scant tannin contradicts its 11.5 years within the barrel.
For no matter purpose, ECBPs are hardly ever complicated, but it is their simplicity and approachability that I and plenty of others discover so enticing. As Heaven Hill’s legendary grasp distiller, Parker Beam, as soon as stated, “All I do know is bourbon, good or dangerous.” And all I find out about ECBPs that he oversaw and I am tasting at this time is they don’t seem to be merely good bourbons, they’re nice bourbons. Might all of us make reminiscences of those treats straight from the bottle and by no means from reminiscences of a tragic catastrophe.
Finish word: I’ve a pour of the A125 useful, and whereas scrumptious, gentle, fruity and nonetheless undeniably an ECBP, I desire the B525. Cannot wait to style the C925!
BRAND NOTES
Uncut, straight from the barrel, and with out chill filtering, the nostril, style and end are preserved of their easiest type. At full barrel proof, you may take pleasure in Elijah Craig a lot the identical manner our grasp distillers do after they pattern straight from the barrel in our Kentucky rickhouses. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a daring and trustworthy expression of what charred oak barrel ageing can do for Bourbon, from the person who originated the method.
Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter obtained a pattern of this product from the model for assessment. We respect their willingness to permit us to assessment their merchandise with no strings hooked up. Thanks.
