Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon

Tasting: B518 from glen cairn glass both neat and then with cap of water. Appearance: Amber and slightly oily, plenty of legs and reddish hue. Nose: (5.0) Very nose forward bourbon. Notes of oak, butterscotch, toffee, vanilla with spice. Ethanol hardly noticed as compared to proof. Palate: (4.5) toffee, carmel, leather and more oak/ barrel taste, dark fruit and red apple in the background. Very rich with thicker mouth feel. A bit oily but pleasing. Spice comes in at the end with alot of heat. Adding water brought out more fruit and syrup, kind of like a cherry jolly rancher. More complex with water added. Really opens up a new level and cools the burn. Finish (4.5): Long lasting with spice, oak barrel and more toffee. This is a great barrel proof. You could sit for an hour and discuss the flavors that play well with each other. The nose however is the star.

Whew, powerful stuff. Really full and rich, a little sweet with some heat. I like it. A lot. B-518