Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A119

This is my second batch of ECBP. The C917 is one of the top few whiskies I've ever had. Hell, even the standard Small Batch is some really good stuff. With the 92 rating on Distiller, I've got some expectations going into this one. And as a side note, I'd like to point out this is the strongest bottle I've ever owned in any category, clocking in at a whopping 67.6% ABV. Nose: Caramel and cocoa jump right out of the glass. Toasted marshmallow and roasted coffee. Butterscotch. Some dry fruit and citrus notes. Pencil shavings and a touch of leather that I can't quite compare to any particular item (somewhere between a new baseball glove and an old book cover). I even get some of the carrot cake I get in Henry McKenna and even a bit of tobacco ash. Loads of cinnamon, allspice, and oak. Some barrel char. A bit of a burn but enticing nonetheless. Great start. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, cocoa, and cola sweetness are accompanied by something that I can only describe as a Hawaiian Punch Gusher. Oddly specific, but I cannot deny that it's there. Carrot cake and candy corn. A bit of cherry and some dried fruit. Hazelnut, almond and maybe some roasted pecan. Barrel char is now out in full force. Just a touch of milk chocolate. It's very oaky, and some of the cinnamon, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, and allspice notes start to creep up at the tail end of the palate. Finish: Black pepper, gloce, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice. Loads of oak. A real spice bomb. Caramel and vanilla, roasted coffee and tobacco smoke. Barrel char and lemon and orange citrus notes. Some more carrot cake. Even though it's a spice bomb, there's a lot more going on in what makes for an extremely long finish. Well done. Superb. 5/5. Not sure if it's better than the C917, but I'll tell you why it's worthy of similar praise. This takes some of the best aspects of the C917, which is ultimately darker and more decadent, and combines them with some of the sweet and tangy notes typically found in Henry McKenna. This Batch tows the line between two of my all-time favorites and presents that combination in a uncut, unfiltered, and unprecedented expression. At $75, this is a steal. I'd gladly pay more. There is much to love here. They've moved pretty far past this one, as I think it's already over a year old. If you can still find it, I highly recommend buying on sight. After two 5-star batches, I'm a batch or two away from crowning ECBP as on the greatest lines in all of whiskey. Cheers!