Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon

This is truly a gem and I think it will do very well on the shelves. It’s quite a step above the standard Small Batch but not quite to the level of ECBP so it is priced accordingly in my opinion. I got vanilla and oak on the nose and the palate was much more sweet and fruity than I was anticipating. In the finish I got the Cherry others have mentioned and also got a little of the char. Great work Heaven Hill but seriously, when is the toasted barrel barrel proof coming out.....that might blow my mind!

Nose is consistent with the Elijah Craig family: spices, dry oak boards, light caramel, vanilla, and a hint of rye mustiness. Soft, but quite warming... clears the palate quickly leaving lots to interpret. Vanilla comes through in waves, from the front all the way to the very end. Toasted coconut and a bit of black cherry finish, along with winter spices. This is really an awesome offering, and definitely stands apart from the Elijah Craig small batch with a significant improvement on the complexity and layer of flavor.

Nose - apple, cherry, maple syrup, clove, nutmeg, and other rye spices, cinnamon, barrel char, milk chocolate, powdered sugar, leather, caramel, dry vanilla, moderate ethanol burn. Taste - cinnamon, tart apple (but not quite Granny Smith), cherry, vanilla, sweet caramel, clove, nutmeg, allspice, honey cured ham, leather, powdered sugar, dry sweet and spicy oak, moderate alcohol bite, finishing quite quickly with sour apple, spicy oak, and tannic leather flavors. I was excited to be one of the first to purchase this expression, at least in Virginia. I like this slightly better than the standard Small Batch; the fruity, spicy, and savory flavors are more pronounced. However, there’s a sourness that pervades the palate, which I don’t particularly enjoy. Additionally, the mouthfeel is fairly thin, which leaves something to be desired. Overall, this is a welcome addition to the EC family. As this review was written based on the neck pour, I’ll revisit in a month or so after oxidations begins.