Tastes

I much prefer the Barrel Proof version of this, 1920, sometimes neat, or else as can water to taste. However, if watering down heavily to equal proof (at least without distilled water) than I prefer the 1870. This is one of the few bourbons with tropical fruit on the palette, which I excellent as I love anything Coconut.

Has the very distinctive Willett cinnamon fruity cherry coke and caramel profile, likely due to the yeast. Hated at first, as I very much dislike the cinnamon on the palate, and very fruity, but its the only whiskey with a strong cinnamon taste/finish that I can get past that to still enjoy, and at least it isn't as strong a presence in the finish, which is at least somewhat dry. I only just begun to like in some cases, when doing a comparison with Willett 3yr Rye (first year not sourced from MGP) and Johnny Drum, both of which share that same distinctive Willett fruity profile, but with the Willett 3yr Rye much much better and the spice and mellowing with the Tennessee-whiskey-like charcoal filtering in the Johnny Drum making it far more balanced, and sometimes preferred, though more often I have been preferring this due to wanting something not quite as muted and sweet (with the charcoal filtering). Much better with ice, coming from someone who almost always prefers - even Barrel Proof - neat, due to the need to reduce the overpowering fruitiness. However, at that proof, you might as well go for Rowan's Creek. That said, if you may prefer to water down to taste and since they are both about equally hard to find in WA and not too big a difference in price, I'm still happy I went with Noah's Mill instead.

Have a sample of this, better than Rare Breed, need to taste further though.

After tasting the Elijah Craig 12 yr Small Batch and the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, I much prefer the Barrel Proof, as even that has a relatively mild taste for my preference, and the Barrel Proof avoids the sweet cinnamon cherry coke finish I dislike in the Elijah Craig 12yr Small Batch. When I want something more fruity, berry, I prefer Willett (Willett Rye 3yr, Johnny Drum Private Stock, or even Noah's Mill). I also prefer Heaven Hill's McKenna 10yr Single Barrel as it has a much stronger, brighter taste, more similar to Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, which I may also prefer to this. That likely goes even more so when compared to the new Elijah Craig (~8yr) NAS.

Very hot, even watered down, and too strongly of sweet cherry cola for my taste. 8-9 years old vs 7 years for Colonel Taylor, which has the same mashbill #1, low-rye. I prefer Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof and even Small Batch to this (both of which share Trace mashbill #1, alongside Eagle Rare and Buffalo Trace), despite this being 8-9 years old vs their 7 years old.

[WARNING: Misleading Bait and Switch] ---- Go for any year but 10yo! The 92 proof 10yo is way too thin, and lacking in flavor other other than oak. It is deceptively advertised as "Barrel Proof", when most bourbons are 90 proof and barrel proof is 110-140 proof!! . For some reason it seems that other years (9-yo or 11 yo) are 100+ proof instead. I suggest going for those instead, as this is very thin and lacking in flavor other than oak, with a high pricetag. Also, I wounder why the non-Single Barrel "Ten" has higher rating:@ https://distiller.com/spirits/smooth-ambler-old-scout-ten-bourbon-whiskey The following advertisement regarding Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel 10 year being awarded the "best Single Barrel Bourbon in the world" in 2016 is incredibly misleading: http://mountainmessenger.com/worlds-best-single-barrel-bourbon-award-goes-smooth-ambler/ The actual award referred to is the following ( http://www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/smooth-ambler-old-scout.25979.html ) for a "106 proof" Smooth Ambler Single Barrel 10 year, which is quite different from the watered down 92 proof that is currently available. It seems like Old Scout took the award winning Bourbon and watered it down for recent releases with the same exact age and label!

Hard to find, and sweet, as its charcoal filtered, but otherwise an excellent Willett bourbon. I prefer to the very similar - but higher proof and not charcoal filtered - Noah's Mill (even when its watered down to the same proof), likely as the filtering reducing some of the strange fruity cinnamon and un-bourbon-like taste otherwise found in Noah's Mill.

Sometimes I prefer this as my favorite Heaven Hill's over Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (12yr / NAS). Definitely top 2 Heaven Hills.

I prefer this over even Colonel Taylor Rye, due to longer finish and greater complexity and corn influence (with Taylor having no corn). It's one of my favorite ryes, though a bit low proof compared to my other favorites. It's much different from the typical MGP/LDI sourced rye, which really helps it to stand out.It makes it so that I can't wait to try Sazerac 18yr even more so the higher proof (though not quite as long aged) Thomas Handy rye, if I can ever find it.

Much better than just typical Elijah Craig Single Barrel , which is somewhat overly mild in taste. This also is mild in taste compared to many even lower proof bourbons, but complex and good for a traditional bourbon and at a sweltering 136 proof, can be watered down to taste. Still, I may prefer Heaven Hill's Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10yr to this, as it has a much stronger taste profile, despite being (only) 100 proof. Despite being NAS now, it still says "twelve years" on the back label, at least as of late '16. This avoids the sweet cinnamon cherry coke finish I dislike in the Elijah Craig 12yr, Small Batch.