Tastes

LARCENY BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2023 Larceny Barrel Proof A123 Larceny Barrel Proof B523 Larceny Barrel Proof C923 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. Getting closer! Larceny Barrel Proof is a wheated bourbon distilled by Heaven Hill and was first launched in January 2020. It is the Barrel Proof version of HH’s already-extant Larceny, which was launched in 2012 and is bottled at 92 proof. LBP is released three times per year and uses the same naming convention as HH’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (i.e., A123, etc.; A, B, C for each release; 1, 5, 9 for Jan., May, Sep.; 23 for 2023). According to the company’s website, the mashbill is consistent at 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. LBP is essentially a wheated complement to ECBP, which uses a more traditional bourbon mashbill that employs rye in place of the wheat. Larceny Barrel Proof A123 Color is a clear and dark mahogany, near to either Pantone 153 and 160 (Pantone has an odd system of increments; there are numerous far lighter shades between 153 and 160). Intense and fruity nose shows brown sugar, stewed cinnamon apples, buttered scones with raspberry jam, café Cubano, and noticeable alcohol. Very rich and sweet on the palate, with a lightly creamy viscosity that envelops your tongue with its warm brown-sugar sweetness. After tasting the C923, I get a distinct peanut brittle as well. The café Cubano reappears on the finish with a touch of its espresso bitterness, as well as some char and vanilla. There is some lingering heat, but this is barrel-proof bourbon—not a cocktail with a little pink umbrella in it. The A123 is very good; but I’m taking my foot off the pedal a bit from my review of it on 10/5/23 (comparing it to ECBP A123). Tasting it now against the LBP B523 and C923, my position is somewhat lower than it was, but still above the community’s 4.05 rating. It has a complex nose, but the heat is just a little out of balance. Still, it’s a great value: each release of Larceny Barrel Proof can typically be found for about $70. Would I buy it again? Yes. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. 125.8 proof. NAS on bottle, but 6-8 years according to the Heaven Hill website. Larceny Barrel Proof B523 Clear mahogany color is indistinguishable from the A123, aligning with 153 or 160 on the Pantone chart. The initial impression is cocoa powder, oiled leather, pancakes and maple syrup, sweet pipe tobacco, Luxardo cherries, and a sweetness that reminds me of the pudin de pan that I had recently at a Colombian restaurant, which had raisins and flan-like caramelized sugar. There’s also a little barbecue-sauce tang. Like the A123, there is a mouthcoating creaminess with corn-pudding sweetness and cinnamon, and just the right combination of woody oak and vanilla on the finish, with a little residual heat. The B523’s nose is more reticent than the January release; it’s not as flamboyant and has a sense of sophistication and smoothness that is suggestive of a little more aging. The proof is virtually identical to the A123, but the heat is better integrated. At a price of around $70, it’s a great value. Would I buy it again? Yes. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. 124.4 proof. NAS on bottle, but 6-8 years according to the Heaven Hill website. Larceny Barrel Proof C923 Same clear mahogany Pantone 153/160 color as the A123 and B523. This nose is different: there’s almost an umami richness with buttered English muffins with strawberry jam, warm banana bread, pomander, chocolate fudge, toffee, vanilla, and even a touch of saline. The same light glycerin mouthfeel as the A123 and B523 appears on the palate, with bananas flambé and its accompanying caramelized -sugar bitterness. There are some drying leathery notes on the finish, and the vanilla lingers. The C923 is exceptional. I could nose it all night. And it’s the smoothest drinking of the bunch. Strangely, the community rating of 3.88 is the lowest of the 2023 releases (yet only 6 ratings prior to this one). As with each of these LBP releases, the $70 retail price is fantastic value in today’s market. Would I buy the C923 again? Yes. I’ll be looking for more. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. 126.4 proof. NAS on bottle, but 6-8 years according to the Heaven Hill website. Full disclosure: I have a sweet tooth, and “sweet” is the word that captures the essence of these 2023 releases. They have more similarities than differences, and have a comforting blanket-like warmth along with that amazing (but not cloying) sweetness and intensity. Each is very similar in terms of proof, ranging from 124.4 to 126.4. The A123 displays youthful intensity; the B523 comes across as having more age; and the C923 combines the best of both, marrying the robust and the sophisticated, and further differentiates itself with its savory aspects. The scuttlebutt seems to be that the Larceny Barrel Proof series is getting better. I’m not nearly as familiar with them as I am with their Elijah Craig Barrel Proof siblings, but surely the “getting better” can’t keep going much longer, because each of these is already very good. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I would’ve liked to have done this with my Budget Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Showdown (September 24, 2023). Color is a clear amber, like Pantone 144. Nose shows sweet corn, orange creamsicle, apple cider, rye spice, and vanilla. Third or fourth time around, also some peanut brittle. Palate has a very light creaminess, with some additional corn sweetness and circus peanuts (the marshmallowy candy—especially when exhaling through the nose with your mouth closed—not the aforementioned actual peanut candy), then picking up some oak, vanilla, and char. Not surprisingly, Old Grand-Dad Bonded drinks like a softer version of Old Grand-Dad 114, which I’ve always liked. Given its high-rye mashbill, I’m a little surprised by the corn prominence on the nose and palate. I need to review this against both OGD 114 and the two corn whiskies that I currently have in inventory (Mellow Corn and Balcone’s Baby Blue), as well as the aforementioned budget bottled-in-bond bourbons. Old Grand-Dad Bonded can be found for under $25. Would I buy it again? Yes. It’s only about $5 cheaper than OGD, but it drinks a little easier, and there’s intrinsic value in inexpensive bottled-in-bond bourbon, assuming it tastes good. 3.5 on the Distiller scale. 100 proof. NAS (but at least 4 years due to its Bottled-in-Bond designation). Mashbill: 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I didn’t even have this one listed in my collection here on Distiller, so I just added it. I’ve been tasting quite a few Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases over the past few days, and since AE is a much lower proof, my review may be influenced by that. Color is a deep and clear orange amber, close to Pantone 144. Nose pales in comparison to several previous days’ worth of the ECBP, as mentioned, but it does show quince, dry cinnamon stick, caramel, vanilla, and a dusty element. Palate also comes across as tepid compared to previous days: mouthfeel is thin, quickly showing some charred oak which morphs into some oaky tannic bitterness and some very light vanilla on the short finish. I’ve had Angel’s Envy on numerous occasions, and have never been overtly disappointed with it. This double negative sounds like something of a backhanded compliment, and it is. While Angel’s Envy was one of the first bourbons to use finishing casks of port or sherry, continuing the common practice in Scotch whisky, bourbons like Rabbit Hole Dareringer do a much better job (albeit with PX sherry casks). While AE can be readily found for under $45, and the Dareringer is more like $70, there’s no particular reason to pay $45 for an 86-proof bourbon which doesn’t differentiate itself, whereas the Dareringer does (I should do a showdown between these two). Would I buy it again? No. 3.0 on the Distiller scale. 86.6 proof. NAS. Batch 87V. Bottle #1107. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2023 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 Continuing to work through ECBPs in my collection. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; my only complete years for all three releases are 2017 and 2023. I’ve previously reviewed the ECBP A123 in a showdown with its Heaven Hill cousin, Larceny Barrel Proof A123 (October 11, 2023); but I’ve yet to review all three 2023 releases in “Showdown” format. In 2017, Elijah Craig introduced a new bottle and label. For the A117 release to the A123, the label at the bottom had three boxes: one for proof, one for ABV, and one for batch (i.e., A123). Each bottle carried a 12-year age statement. This changed with the B523 release, and thus far continues with the C923. These labels continue to show the proof in the first box, but the second box now shows the age statement, which is no longer only 12 years. The B523 is 11 years and 5 months; the C923 is 13 years and 7 months. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). As of roughly a week ago: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Like each of these 2023 releases, the A123 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. caramelized sugar, root beer, pineapple upside down cake, barbecue sauce, caramel, maple syrup, chocolate pudding pie, and vanilla. There is a faint vegetal note like celery seed, but this only makes it more interesting. The amazing depth and breadth on the nose doesn’t miss a step on the palate, which is sweet and spicy. Some drying leather and lots of vanilla on the long finish. When I did a Showdown between the ECBP A123 and the Larceny Barrel Proof A123, I rated the ECBP 4.25 vs the LBP at 4.5. If that was accurate, I can’t wait to taste the LBP A123 again! Th ECBP A123 is very, very good. Would I buy it again? Yes. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is the best value in all of bourbondom. And it’s not that $80 is “cheap”; rather, it is inexpensive relative to bourbon-price insanity, and represents amazing value in its combination of price, flavor, and proof. Easy 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.42, z=1.13, n=49 (well above all ECBPs) 125.6 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 Like each of these 2023 releases, the B523 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. Muted nose compared to the A123 (although it does open up after 15+ minutes). Cocoa, pecan pie, marzipan, deep sandalwood, and a dusty dry leather note. It becomes much more assertive on the palate, with cola syrup and a deep honeyed sweetness, and the 124.2 proof (the lightest of the bunch) makes an appearance. That same assertiveness continues on the finish, with the dusty dry leather note making a second appearance, along with some slight bitterness and a hit of vanilla. As of last week, the Distiller community has ranked the B523 at 4.47, second only to the C523’s 4.49. I can’t agree with that. The nose is a wallflower compared to its A123 and C923 siblings, and that same nose is incongruous with its own palate as well. To be fair, these are high-class problems, manifest from high expectations. Would I buy it again? Yes. Of course I would. I’ve never been disappointed with any release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and the fact that they can be found at $80 is just incredible. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.25 Community: m=4.47, z=1.49, n=69 (well above than all ECBPs) 124.2 proof. 11-year, 5-month age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 Like each of these 2023 releases, the C923 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. Effusive, penetrating nose shows banana bread, brown sugar, rich apple pie, caramel, sweet and sour sauce, the same very light celery-seed note that I got on the A123, and a cooling hint of licorice. On the palate, the flavors coat the tongue, and the robust flavor intensity keeps the high 133 proof in check. Toasted marshmallow—including some that you let catch on fire and get a little burnt—on the finish, along with a little root beer and vanilla. Wow. Transcendent. ECBP C923 is on another level. Insofar that I can recall, this is my favorite release of ECBP. This bourbon can be found for $79.99, which is the best bourbon value I’ve ever come across (the A123 is not too far behind). Would I buy it again? Yes. Please, if you see any at retail, leave a comment below and I’ll be there ASAP. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.75 Community: m=4.49, z=1.64, n=69 (significantly better than all ECBPs) 133.0 proof. 13-year, 7-month age statement. Overall, the B523 is the softest of the bunch, and was the easiest of the three to rank. It has the lowest age statement, and the lowest proof (just slightly lower than the A123). But that’s not a ding; it is very good. “Softest” is relative to the other two, and tasted alone, that same descriptor could come across as “smooth.” But the nose is AWOL in comparison. The A123 and C923, however, are on a different level, with robust aromatics and flavors from start to finish. As I’ve stated before, these “Showdown” formats aren’t necessarily meant to declare winners and losers, but rather to establish some context amongst various themes. For the 2023 releases of ECBP, however, there is a clear hierarchy: C923, closely followed by A123, and then B523. I’d happily drink the B523 neat and enjoy every sip. And to be clear, I’m not influenced by the fact that the May release is somewhat lower (11 years, 5 months) than ECBP’s typical 12-year age statement. It simply lacks the unbelievable intensity of the January and September 2023 releases. At some point down the road, I’ll do a Showdown between the ECBP B523 and the Larceny Barrel Proof B523; perhaps the ECBP will show differently against that backdrop. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2023 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 Continuing to work through ECBPs in my collection. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; my only complete years for all three releases are 2017 and 2023. I’ve previously reviewed the ECBP A123 in a showdown with its Heaven Hill cousin, Larceny Barrel Proof A123 (October 11, 2023); but I’ve yet to review all three 2023 releases in “Showdown” format. In 2017, Elijah Craig introduced a new bottle and label. For the A117 release to the A123, the label at the bottom had three boxes: one for proof, one for ABV, and one for batch (i.e., A123). Each bottle carried a 12-year age statement. This changed with the B523 release, and thus far continues with the C923. These labels continue to show the proof in the first box, but the second box now shows the age statement, which is no longer only 12 years. The B523 is 11 years and 5 months; the C923 is 13 years and 7 months. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). As of roughly a week ago: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Like each of these 2023 releases, the A123 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. caramelized sugar, root beer, pineapple upside down cake, barbecue sauce, caramel, maple syrup, chocolate pudding pie, and vanilla. There is a faint vegetal note like celery seed, but this only makes it more interesting. The amazing depth and breadth on the nose doesn’t miss a step on the palate, which is sweet and spicy. Some drying leather and lots of vanilla on the long finish. When I did a Showdown between the ECBP A123 and the Larceny Barrel Proof A123, I rated the ECBP 4.25 vs the LBP at 4.5. If that was accurate, I can’t wait to taste the LBP A123 again! Th ECBP A123 is very, very good. Would I buy it again? Yes. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is the best value in all of bourbondom. And it’s not that $80 is “cheap”; rather, it is inexpensive relative to bourbon-price insanity, and represents amazing value in its combination of price, flavor, and proof. Easy 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.42, z=1.13, n=49 (well above all ECBPs) 125.6 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 Like each of these 2023 releases, the B523 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. Muted nose compared to the A123 (although it does open up after 15+ minutes). Cocoa, pecan pie, marzipan, deep sandalwood, and a dusty dry leather note. It becomes much more assertive on the palate, with cola syrup and a deep honeyed sweetness, and the 124.2 proof (the lightest of the bunch) makes an appearance. That same assertiveness continues on the finish, with the dusty dry leather note making a second appearance, along with some slight bitterness and a hit of vanilla. As of last week, the Distiller community has ranked the B523 at 4.47, second only to the C523’s 4.49. I can’t agree with that. The nose is a wallflower compared to its A123 and C923 siblings, and that same nose is incongruous with its own palate as well. To be fair, these are high-class problems, manifest from high expectations. Would I buy it again? Yes. Of course I would. I’ve never been disappointed with any release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and the fact that they can be found at $80 is just incredible. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.25 Community: m=4.47, z=1.49, n=69 (well above than all ECBPs) 124.2 proof. 11-year, 5-month age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 Like each of these 2023 releases, the C923 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. Effusive, penetrating nose shows banana bread, brown sugar, rich apple pie, caramel, sweet and sour sauce, the same very light celery-seed note that I got on the A123, and a cooling hint of licorice. On the palate, the flavors coat the tongue, and the robust flavor intensity keeps the high 133 proof in check. Toasted marshmallow—including some that you let catch on fire and get a little burnt—on the finish, along with a little root beer and vanilla. Wow. Transcendent. ECBP C923 is on another level. Insofar that I can recall, this is my favorite release of ECBP. This bourbon can be found for $79.99, which is the best bourbon value I’ve ever come across (the A123 is not too far behind). Would I buy it again? Yes. Please, if you see any at retail, leave a comment below and I’ll be there ASAP. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.75 Community: m=4.49, z=1.64, n=69 (significantly better than all ECBPs) 133.0 proof. 13-year, 7-month age statement. Overall, the B523 is the softest of the bunch, and was the easiest of the three to rank. It has the lowest age statement, and the lowest proof (just slightly lower than the A123). But that’s not a ding; it is very good. “Softest” is relative to the other two, and tasted alone, that same descriptor could come across as “smooth.” But the nose is AWOL in comparison. The A123 and C923, however, are on a different level, with robust aromatics and flavors from start to finish. As I’ve stated before, these “Showdown” formats aren’t necessarily meant to declare winners and losers, but rather to establish some context amongst various themes. For the 2023 releases of ECBP, however, there is a clear hierarchy: C923, closely followed by A123, and then B523. I’d happily drink the B523 neat and enjoy every sip. And to be clear, I’m not influenced by the fact that the May release is somewhat lower (11 years, 5 months) than ECBP’s typical 12-year age statement. It simply lacks the unbelievable intensity of the January and September 2023 releases. At some point down the road, I’ll do a Showdown between the ECBP B523 and the Larceny Barrel Proof B523; perhaps the ECBP will show differently against that backdrop. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2023 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 Continuing to work through ECBPs in my collection. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; my only complete years for all three releases are 2017 and 2023. I’ve previously reviewed the ECBP A123 in a showdown with its Heaven Hill cousin, Larceny Barrel Proof A123 (October 11, 2023); but I’ve yet to review all three 2023 releases in “Showdown” format. In 2017, Elijah Craig introduced a new bottle and label. For the A117 release to the A123, the label at the bottom had three boxes: one for proof, one for ABV, and one for batch (i.e., A123). Each bottle carried a 12-year age statement. This changed with the B523 release, and thus far continues with the C923. These labels continue to show the proof in the first box, but the second box now shows the age statement, which is no longer only 12 years. The B523 is 11 years and 5 months; the C923 is 13 years and 7 months. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). As of roughly a week ago: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A123 Like each of these 2023 releases, the A123 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. caramelized sugar, root beer, pineapple upside down cake, barbecue sauce, caramel, maple syrup, chocolate pudding pie, and vanilla. There is a faint vegetal note like celery seed, but this only makes it more interesting. The amazing depth and breadth on the nose doesn’t miss a step on the palate, which is sweet and spicy. Some drying leather and lots of vanilla on the long finish. When I did a Showdown between the ECBP A123 and the Larceny Barrel Proof A123, I rated the ECBP 4.25 vs the LBP at 4.5. If that was accurate, I can’t wait to taste the LBP A123 again! Th ECBP A123 is very, very good. Would I buy it again? Yes. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is the best value in all of bourbondom. And it’s not that $80 is “cheap”; rather, it is inexpensive relative to bourbon-price insanity, and represents amazing value in its combination of price, flavor, and proof. Easy 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.42, z=1.13, n=49 (well above all ECBPs) 125.6 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 Like each of these 2023 releases, the B523 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. Muted nose compared to the A123 (although it does open up after 15+ minutes). Cocoa, pecan pie, marzipan, deep sandalwood, and a dusty dry leather note. It becomes much more assertive on the palate, with cola syrup and a deep honeyed sweetness, and the 124.2 proof (the lightest of the bunch) makes an appearance. That same assertiveness continues on the finish, with the dusty dry leather note making a second appearance, along with some slight bitterness and a hit of vanilla. As of last week, the Distiller community has ranked the B523 at 4.47, second only to the C523’s 4.49. I can’t agree with that. The nose is a wallflower compared to its A123 and C923 siblings, and that same nose is incongruous with its own palate as well. To be fair, these are high-class problems, manifest from high expectations. Would I buy it again? Yes. Of course I would. I’ve never been disappointed with any release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and the fact that they can be found at $80 is just incredible. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.25 Community: m=4.47, z=1.49, n=69 (well above than all ECBPs) 124.2 proof. 11-year, 5-month age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 Like each of these 2023 releases, the C923 color is a clear mahogany, like Pantone 159. Effusive, penetrating nose shows banana bread, brown sugar, rich apple pie, caramel, sweet and sour sauce, the same very light celery-seed note that I got on the A123, and a cooling hint of licorice. On the palate, the flavors coat the tongue, and the robust flavor intensity keeps the high 133 proof in check. Toasted marshmallow—including some that you let catch on fire and get a little burnt—on the finish, along with a little root beer and vanilla. Wow. Transcendent. ECBP C923 is on another level. Insofar that I can recall, this is my favorite release of ECBP. This bourbon can be found for $79.99, which is the best bourbon value I’ve ever come across (the A123 is not too far behind). Would I buy it again? Yes. Please, if you see any at retail, leave a comment below and I’ll be there ASAP. 4.75 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.75 Community: m=4.49, z=1.64, n=69 (significantly better than all ECBPs) 133.0 proof. 13-year, 7-month age statement. Overall, the B523 is the softest of the bunch, and was the easiest of the three to rank. It has the lowest age statement, and the lowest proof (just slightly lower than the A123). But that’s not a ding; it is very good. “Softest” is relative to the other two, and tasted alone, that same descriptor could come across as “smooth.” But the nose is AWOL in comparison. The A123 and C923, however, are on a different level, with robust aromatics and flavors from start to finish. As I’ve stated before, these “Showdown” formats aren’t necessarily meant to declare winners and losers, but rather to establish some context amongst various themes. For the 2023 releases of ECBP, however, there is a clear hierarchy: C923, closely followed by A123, and then B523. I’d happily drink the B523 neat and enjoy every sip. And to be clear, I’m not influenced by the fact that the May release is somewhat lower (11 years, 5 months) than ECBP’s typical 12-year age statement. It simply lacks the unbelievable intensity of the January and September 2023 releases. At some point down the road, I’ll do a Showdown between the ECBP B523 and the Larceny Barrel Proof B523; perhaps the ECBP will show differently against that backdrop. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2021 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; however, my only complete year for all three releases is 2017. For 2021, I was never able to find C921, so this showdown will compare the A121 to the B521. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). At the time of yesterday’s review: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 The A121 presents as a deep, dark amber, much like Pantone 152. Effusive nose shows toasted oak, peanut brittle (this later after going back and forth between the two), cherries, pomander (both the dried orange and clove components), some corn pudding, vanilla, and a little anise at the end. The palate is wonderfully sweet and the alcohol is quickly noticeable on the back end, bringing some spice. Charred oak, just a smidgen of tannic bitterness, and nice vanilla on the finish. Caveat lector: I’m a huge ECBP fan, and I’m certainly not alone there. Where else are you going to find rich, bold flavors at 125-ish proof for $75? Larceny Barrel Proof (another Heaven Hill product) is getting there (it’s actually a little cheaper). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has no competition in this space. Would I buy it again? Yes. Over the course of half an hour, the A121 just kept getting better and better. It’s amazing. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.24, z=-0.16, n=239 (marginally worse than all ECBPs) 123.6 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Like the A121, the B521 is a clear version of Pantone 152. Nose exhibits crème brûlée, toasted oak, clove, apple cider, and a little bit of a dusty element. Palate is sweeter than the nose, with chocolate-covered cherries. I even thought I got a touch of pineapple, with some coconut: not quite a piña colada, but coconut is not uncommon from oak. . The alcohol seems a little more integrated (to be fair, it is 4.6 proof points lower than the A121), but teh spice is there. Roasted marshmallow, a little oak, and a long pull of vanilla on the finish. This is beginning to sound like a broken record: complex nose, rich and robust flavors, barrel-proof strength, and $75. Would I buy it again? Yes. Every time. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.15, z=-0.81, n=190 (moderately worse than all ECBPs) 118.2 proof. 12-year age statement. Both of these ECBP releases have without-a-doubt bourbon profiles, with the volume pushing full blast. They’re not perfect exemplars—my benchmarks are the 2019 William Larue Weller and George T. Stagg for higher proofs—and these fall short of that smoothness and the warm, enveloping, even soothing experiences that those bourbons provide. While I’ve listed some different descriptors—which are subjective and often times overlap and are not explicitly distinct—the two releases are more similar than they are different, and consistent with typical ECBP offerings. I rate them higher than the Distiller community. How many bourbons are that much better? Not many. I’ll happily savor these neat: like all ECBP releases, they offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2021 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; however, my only complete year for all three releases is 2017. For 2021, I was never able to find C921, so this showdown will compare the A121 to the B521. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). At the time of yesterday’s review: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 The A121 presents as a deep, dark amber, much like Pantone 152. Effusive nose shows toasted oak, peanut brittle (this later after going back and forth between the two), cherries, pomander (both the dried orange and clove components), some corn pudding, vanilla, and a little anise at the end. The palate is wonderfully sweet and the alcohol is quickly noticeable on the back end, bringing some spice. Charred oak, just a smidgen of tannic bitterness, and nice vanilla on the finish. Caveat lector: I’m a huge ECBP fan, and I’m certainly not alone there. Where else are you going to find rich, bold flavors at 125-ish proof for $75? Larceny Barrel Proof (another Heaven Hill product) is getting there (it’s actually a little cheaper). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has no competition in this space. Would I buy it again? Yes. Over the course of half an hour, the A121 just kept getting better and better. It’s amazing. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.24, z=-0.16, n=239 (marginally worse than all ECBPs) 123.6 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Like the A121, the B521 is a clear version of Pantone 152. Nose exhibits crème brûlée, toasted oak, clove, apple cider, and a little bit of a dusty element. Palate is sweeter than the nose, with chocolate-covered cherries. I even thought I got a touch of pineapple, with some coconut: not quite a piña colada, but coconut is not uncommon from oak. . The alcohol seems a little more integrated (to be fair, it is 4.6 proof points lower than the A121), but teh spice is there. Roasted marshmallow, a little oak, and a long pull of vanilla on the finish. This is beginning to sound like a broken record: complex nose, rich and robust flavors, barrel-proof strength, and $75. Would I buy it again? Yes. Every time. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.15, z=-0.81, n=190 (moderately worse than all ECBPs) 118.2 proof. 12-year age statement. Both of these ECBP releases have without-a-doubt bourbon profiles, with the volume pushing full blast. They’re not perfect exemplars—my benchmarks are the 2019 William Larue Weller and George T. Stagg for higher proofs—and these fall short of that smoothness and the warm, enveloping, even soothing experiences that those bourbons provide. While I’ve listed some different descriptors—which are subjective and often times overlap and are not explicitly distinct—the two releases are more similar than they are different, and consistent with typical ECBP offerings. I rate them higher than the Distiller community. How many bourbons are that much better? Not many. I’ll happily savor these neat: like all ECBP releases, they offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2019 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B519 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; however, my only complete year for all three releases is 2017. For 2019, I was never able to find C919, so this showdown will compare the A119 to the B519. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). At the time of yesterday’s review: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Color is a clear russet mahogany, consistent with Pantone 153. Prominent cherries on the nose, orange marmalade, caramel apples, oaky vanilla, and noticeable alcohol. Just the slightest bit of creaminess on the palate, with caramelized sugar and spicy cinnamon with the alcohol kick, finishing with some tobacco, leather, toasted oak, and lots of vanilla on the medium-long finish. For $75-80, the age statement, barrel proof, and consistent good- to-great quality of ECBP makes this bourbon a no-brainer. Unfortunately, they get scarce pretty quickly, and I’m typically not able to secure all three releases for any given year—though I definitely try. ECBP always represents a great value. This particular batch is very good: complex, robust, and approaching hazmat proof, which doesn’t overwhelm the depth and richness of flavor. Give me a campfire in the woods on a cool fall evening, and this (and a good woman). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.36, z=0.70, n=270 (moderately better than all ECBPs) 135.2 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B519 Bourbonesque clear mahogany (Pantone 153) is indistinguishable in color from the A119. Nose begins with a soft cocoa powder followed by fruity cherries, grilled peaches, and strawberry preserves, and a whiff of cool licorice. The palate has a little sweetness, quickly revealing some espresso bitterness, woody tannins, char, roasted marshmallow, and burnt caramel, before fading to vanilla. Tasted after the A119, the B519’s lower proof is evident: this is a kinder, gentler ECBP. “Gentler,” but not “gentle.” It’s softer than the A119, but has the gusto to wear the ECBP banner proudly. While the community rates this as slightly below all ECBPs over the past seven years, I’d rate it just slightly above, but given the quarter-point increments of the Distiller rating system, there’s not enough to push it to a 4.5 like the A119. Great value as always. Would I buy it again? Yes. I buy every ECBP release that I see. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.25 Community: m=4.23, z=-0.23, n=305 (slightly worse than all ECBPs) 122.2 proof. 12-year age statement. For the most part, comparing ECBPs is like comparing BMWs with Mercedes, or critiquing any luxury car brand and debating the merits of different options. These tasting “Showdowns” are fun to do, and I believe are good exercises for your nose and palate. Finding the good stuff requires wading through a lot of crap. I’ve waded through a lot of crap already, and am sure that ECBP is among the good stuff. Overall, the A119 is more complex and assertive, whereas the B519 is softer (and still complex). Both are perched near the top of the bourbon world. The A119 appeals a bit more to my palate than the B519, but I will continue to happily drink them both. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.

ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2019 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B519 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; however, my only complete year for all three releases is 2017. For 2019, I was never able to find C919, so this showdown will compare the A119 to the B519. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). At the time of yesterday’s review: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A119 Color is a clear russet mahogany, consistent with Pantone 153. Prominent cherries on the nose, orange marmalade, caramel apples, oaky vanilla, and noticeable alcohol. Just the slightest bit of creaminess on the palate, with caramelized sugar and spicy cinnamon with the alcohol kick, finishing with some tobacco, leather, toasted oak, and lots of vanilla on the medium-long finish. For $75-80, the age statement, barrel proof, and consistent good- to-great quality of ECBP makes this bourbon a no-brainer. Unfortunately, they get scarce pretty quickly, and I’m typically not able to secure all three releases for any given year—though I definitely try. ECBP always represents a great value. This particular batch is very good: complex, robust, and approaching hazmat proof, which doesn’t overwhelm the depth and richness of flavor. Give me a campfire in the woods on a cool fall evening, and this (and a good woman). 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.36, z=0.70, n=270 (moderately better than all ECBPs) 135.2 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B519 Bourbonesque clear mahogany (Pantone 153) is indistinguishable in color from the A119. Nose begins with a soft cocoa powder followed by fruity cherries, grilled peaches, and strawberry preserves, and a whiff of cool licorice. The palate has a little sweetness, quickly revealing some espresso bitterness, woody tannins, char, roasted marshmallow, and burnt caramel, before fading to vanilla. Tasted after the A119, the B519’s lower proof is evident: this is a kinder, gentler ECBP. “Gentler,” but not “gentle.” It’s softer than the A119, but has the gusto to wear the ECBP banner proudly. While the community rates this as slightly below all ECBPs over the past seven years, I’d rate it just slightly above, but given the quarter-point increments of the Distiller rating system, there’s not enough to push it to a 4.5 like the A119. Great value as always. Would I buy it again? Yes. I buy every ECBP release that I see. 4.25 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.25 Community: m=4.23, z=-0.23, n=305 (slightly worse than all ECBPs) 122.2 proof. 12-year age statement. For the most part, comparing ECBPs is like comparing BMWs with Mercedes, or critiquing any luxury car brand and debating the merits of different options. These tasting “Showdowns” are fun to do, and I believe are good exercises for your nose and palate. Finding the good stuff requires wading through a lot of crap. I’ve waded through a lot of crap already, and am sure that ECBP is among the good stuff. Overall, the A119 is more complex and assertive, whereas the B519 is softer (and still complex). Both are perched near the top of the bourbon world. The A119 appeals a bit more to my palate than the B519, but I will continue to happily drink them both. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.