Tastes

A solid bourbon but I enjoyed C918 more. This batch is harsh on my palate and required a lot of dilution to enjoy. C918 did not. Once diluted, though, the flavors were very enjoyable, but I left wanting more.

Great whisky at a great price. Definitely one to keep in my rotation as a daily drinker. When you want to relax and sip a good whisky, but are not in the mood for something complex with a lot of burn this is your bottle.

Solid bourbon. I have the regular small batch and the Virginia select small batch and honestly can’t tell a huge difference. That being said, I like having this on my shelf as a daily drinker.

I enjoyed this rye. I never tried the batches that included the 16 yr rye from Barton so can’t compare, but everything I have read says the older recipe was a lot better. That being said, this is a solid offering at a reasonable price (unlike their other whiskeys). If you are deciding between this and Rendezvous Rye (ignoring the $40 price difference) get this one. It has 2-7 year ryes. Rendezvous has 4-7 year ryes. Same mashbills.

Best bourbon I have ever enjoyed. C918 is exceptional. At 131 proof it's certainly at hazmat levels, but it dangerously does not drink like a high proof bourbon. Adding a few drops of water or a small piece of ice releases an explosion of flavors. Outstanding. Addendum: it is now 4 months later and I have half a bottle remaining of C918. It’s even better now, if that’s at all possible. I now get sweet pipe tobacco on the palate, which reminds me of my grandpa who often smoked a pipe on his porch. This is what bourbon should be, provoking fond memories of days gone by.

I finally scored a bottle from my ABC store. It has been nearly impossible to find, so I was excited to get a bottle. I had high expectations given all the reviews. First of all, I really like the bottle - very unique. And the cork is definitely a keeper. But this is where my excitement ends, unfortunately. The nose is nothing unique. Unfortunately the taste isn’t either. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good bourbon. But for $60, I had much higher expectations. I honestly like Henry McKenna 10 year better and it’s half the price. I bet if you put Blanton’s in a plain bottle, I doubt anyone would pay $60. Just my opinion. I’ll keep the bottle after I finish it, though, and maybe put a cheaper bourbon in there to mess with people.

This is an underrated bourbon. I bet if you put this in a nicer bottle with a slick label and a cork, people would pay 2 times the price and not think twice. Yea, I think it’s that good. Is it memorable? Not necessarily, but it tastes the way bourbon is supposed to taste. I actually like it better than Buffalo Trace. Put this in a fancy decanter on your home bar and serve it to guests and they will thank you. It’s a great sipper neat, and makes a great Old Fashioned.

After reading such high reviews of this I lucked out and stumbled across a bottle at my local ABC store, which almost never gets any of this. The bottle I purchased was batch C918 and it’ s a little over 131 proof. I payed $60 USD. Damn. This is a very good bourbon. VERY good. The nose is sweet - I get vanilla, sweet corn, baking spices, cake frosting, and oak. Maybe a little molasses. The alcohol is definitely there but not overpowering like I was expecting. That being said, it’s 131 proof so don’t go nose diving unless you need to trim back some nose hairs. Being a 12 year bourbon, the oak was not too heavy, but rounded out the nose perfectly. The taste. Oh, the taste. It mirrors the palate perfectly. I tried it neat first, which seems suicidal at 131 proof but my goodness how can a 131 proof bourbon be so smooth? Perfect for a cold winter night, the warmth overtakes you like a cozy blanket in front of a nice crackling fire. Perfect. I then added a small piece of ice. The gradual melting of the ice peels back layer after layer of flavor. What a dram. I’m going to savor this bottle for a long time. If you came a cross a bottle, buy it. I’m not one to pay $60 on a bourbon I haven’t tried, and I honestly can’t justify it in many cases. This was a splurge. And it was one of the best bourbon purchases I have made. At $60, it is a steal. I have never tried the other ECBP batches so have nothing to compare to but it’s better than any bourbon I have enjoyed. Addendum: Just bought a bottle of A119. It's a blazing 135 proof. The heat on this one is a lot less friendly than C918. The palate is still excellent but not as complex as C918. I'd still rate this one a 4.25/5. Perhaps with a little time the heat will be more tame.

I would make this my daily sipper if it was on the shelf regularly at my ABC store. Unfortunately it isn’t and I was lucky when I found a bottle.