Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C920

A rather epic trip to chicago this weekend sent me home with a few nice bottles and the opportunity to try some absolutely EPIC whiskies. This was kinda the cherry on top if you will, and always difficult for me to find bottle and Binny's just had one good to go for me...though a few bucks were spent and they were more than happy to take care of us that day. Nose - so I always associate ECBP with this caramel bomb with heavy oak and just intense sweetness. Instead where I get a bit more a dusty oak and light sweetness. Even the abv seems tamed. Don't get me wrong there's proof here and there's a lot of aroma and sweetness, but it isn't what you'd expect from an ECBP and nothing like the normal dark chocolates and deep character I expect from the last two C batches. Taste - So I'll open with a totally stolen line but salted pretzels (all rights for that to Jason at The Masha and Drum who told me that last night). Then it transitions into those dark sweets, heavy caramel and then actually more salted pretzels on the finish again. This is dry ECBP with a focus on balance perhaps in a way I'm not used to. But what is it balanced too? That's a weird one. I know heaven hill often has that dusty corn note similar to beam but I've never had it in an ECBP and I'm getting it here. There's still some deep dark caramel and oak and fruity elements we have all come to love, but this dusty element is new. Overall, this is a touch disappointing but still exceptional by today's sub 70 dollar bourbon standards. Score - so I was pretty harsh on A120 for the heat and I've praised B520 for being just awesome. This off the cuff is about the same as A120 for different reasons though 3.0 seems a hair low. But for now I'll score this a 3.0 but it's a weaker 3.0 than A120. Both might need to be bumped to a 3.25 or maybe just the A120. I'll have to re-review. This is an ECBP I might not buy a back up of, if given the option. That would be a first since I learned how to life hack my spending into good bourbons.

Nose is vanilla, hint of citrus, slight chocolate. Palate is incredibly smooth. Very much a vanilla Publix cake. No burn for me. Now I need B520.

This burns! Love it!

Very smooth for such a high proof. Vanilla finish that lingers.

The B520 was my favorite on my shelf of a dozen or so top shelf-ish bourbons. Went to get more whilst on the road since my residence is rather remote. Got this newest small batch instead. Compared them side by side and I definitely like this better. So much complex flavor for 133 proof. There is slight burn but it doesn't overpower the flavor and the next 130+ proof i drink with no burn will be the first. I'll get my greedy hands on every small batch# barrel strength Elijah Craig I can. Absolute steal at $63. Considering going and buying all i can before I head back to the hills.