Tastes

Sweet nose, full, rich and well balanced, subtle but present oak flavor. Most noticeably, however, is just how darn smooth this stuff is. I don’t know if it’s quite worth the hype, (it’s definitely not worth the crazy secondary prices) but it’s certainly one to be enjoyed more than once.

Light nose, slow to open up so be sure to give it a few good swirls. Brown sugar and honey can be found here. Mouth feel is slightly thin, but not too much so. More honey then some spice creeps in. Medium finish with a gentle hug, along with a slight dryness that I seem to notice more with wheaters. Very pleasant bourbon that’s worth the esteem...but not the inflated price.

Many mature bourbons tend to start off sweet then spicy, oaky then fruity....at least that has been my experience anyway. But not this one. This one leads with cinnamon and baking spices on the nose as well as the tongue, before some brown sugar reminds you that it’s still bourbon, and bourbon is sweet. Finally, at the very end of it’s noticeable 101-proof finish, does it also remind you of its 12 year age statement with a delicious swell of oakiness that waves a long goodbye to your tastebuds.

Bright and pleasant from nose all the way through to the finish. Nice balance of sweet and spicy, with a fun red hots cinnamon candy note at the end. Very approachable and solid bourbon for the price.

EC small batch was what got me into bourbon years ago, and now this barrel proof is like graduating to the big leagues. At 135.2 it’s definitely hot, but not overwhelming. Orange citrus, spicy rye, leather, and charred wood...it’s everything that is Elijah Craig, but turned up to 11.

The expert review couldn’t be more on the nose (pun intended). This bourbon is ever evolving and takes a long time to open up fully. Hot then smooth, sweet then dry, citrus, floral, vanilla, oak, on and on...this is a fun and tasty pour.

Good nose, starts out sweet then wood and black pepper notes come through that I’ve also noticed in their rye. Short finish. The lower proof makes it a good sipper.

Simple but smooth. More ethanol on the nose than I’d like. Thin mouthfeel with honey bread notes. Finish was lacking a bit. A good sipper if you like wheaters, but not a whole lot going on.

Beautiful copper color, sweet and fruity nose, rich and spicy palate with just a touch of oaky char. But the finish is where it’s really at. So smooth it almost tricks you into thinking it has no finish...until finally you start to feel that familiar warm tingle growing ever so subtly. The fullness of the 115 proof washes over your mouth like a meandering wave, bringing with it a smokiness that lingers for days.