Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon

Taste- neat, 1.5 oz in mini- glen cairn. Rested for 15 minutes Nose- Caramel and toasted marshmallow are dominant. There is also a mustiness like wet cardboard that I am not really into. Palate- caramel, bit-o-honey followed by a nice kick of all-spice. The marshmallow is still there followed by a bit of smokiness, almost like you might find in a single barrel Jack Daniel's. Campfire-ish, not smokehouse or bbq. Texture is just a bit thin, but the palate here outshines the nose. Thank God thr wet cardboard is gone. Finish- Butterscotch and caramel are lasting and lingering. I found a bit of graham cracker pie crust also on the back end. There is a nice gradual warming on the finish that can be a sneaky one. Overall- best of times, worst of times for me. The wet cardboard on the nose really got to me. Was the note I had trouble getting out of my head. The thinner palate was a a bit of a let down. But then a really nice change of pace in the way of marshmallow, smoke, honey came in on the palate. The graham cracker and butterscotch finish with the sneaky warming was a hit. A nice addition at srp to showcase how the same mash, same proof, same aging BUT then a second barrel can influence a bourbon. This shares the mash, proof, and original barrel management of regular EC....but then on the palate and nose they seem nowhere the same. Would I pay anything past srp???? No. This whiskey is like a pitcher who has a nice changeup- it may induce a groundball out and was effective to retire the side, but it will never be as sexy as a 100 mph strikeout in the bottom of the 9th with the bags loaded. I will leave it at that.

It’s been said here pretty well. Nose of baked apples, cinnamon. Sweetness, maybe honey. On the palate oak. This whisky starts bold, but fades in a very muted and quick finish. Very disappointed in the finish. Not bad but Small Batch andWoodford DO are so much better.

Find it to be a touch sweeter and a little more Barrel note. There’s a caramel profile all the way through.