ELIJAH CRAIG BARREL PROOF SHOWDOWN: 2021 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Continuing to work through whiskies in my collection that I’ve yet to review. I’ve got several years and releases of ECBP; however, my only complete year for all three releases is 2017. For 2021, I was never able to find C921, so this showdown will compare the A121 to the B521. I’ve gone through seven years of community ranking data for each triannual rating of ECBP, and averaged the 21 averages themselves to establish a community mean for the seven-year period 2017-2023. This will enable us to quantify what the group things about a particular release relative to the overall average (mean). At the time of yesterday’s review: • mean(m): 4.26 • standard deviation(s): 0.14 • sample size(n): 3008 (If you don’t care about stats, you can skip the next two paragraphs). Because I’m unable to aggregate all ratings for each specific release (Distiller, are you listening? Give us more data!), I’m unable to establish a standard deviation for a particular release. But I am able to compute the z-score for each particular release relative to the entire sample. The z-score is computed as follows: ((mean for the specific release minus the mean for the entire sample) divided by the overall sample’s standard deviation). This statistic quantifies how much better or worse a particular release is in relation to the community’s ranking of all ECBP over the sample period. Assuming a normal distribution, any z-score within +/- 1.0 standard deviation is assumed to be within “normal” limits (per the empirical rule, ~68% of the distribution is within +/- 1 standard deviation from the mean). A z-score of +/- 2 standard deviations would represent ~95% of the distribution; and +/- 3 is ~99% of the distribution. Thus a z-score of +1.5 would be a significantly better release than normal (and -1.5 would be significantly worse). A z-score of 2.0 would be better than 95% of the sample, etc. (End of stats geek stuff). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A121 The A121 presents as a deep, dark amber, much like Pantone 152. Effusive nose shows toasted oak, peanut brittle (this later after going back and forth between the two), cherries, pomander (both the dried orange and clove components), some corn pudding, vanilla, and a little anise at the end. The palate is wonderfully sweet and the alcohol is quickly noticeable on the back end, bringing some spice. Charred oak, just a smidgen of tannic bitterness, and nice vanilla on the finish. Caveat lector: I’m a huge ECBP fan, and I’m certainly not alone there. Where else are you going to find rich, bold flavors at 125-ish proof for $75? Larceny Barrel Proof (another Heaven Hill product) is getting there (it’s actually a little cheaper). Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has no competition in this space. Would I buy it again? Yes. Over the course of half an hour, the A121 just kept getting better and better. It’s amazing. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.24, z=-0.16, n=239 (marginally worse than all ECBPs) 123.6 proof. 12-year age statement. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B521 Like the A121, the B521 is a clear version of Pantone 152. Nose exhibits crème brûlée, toasted oak, clove, apple cider, and a little bit of a dusty element. Palate is sweeter than the nose, with chocolate-covered cherries. I even thought I got a touch of pineapple, with some coconut: not quite a piña colada, but coconut is not uncommon from oak. . The alcohol seems a little more integrated (to be fair, it is 4.6 proof points lower than the A121), but teh spice is there. Roasted marshmallow, a little oak, and a long pull of vanilla on the finish. This is beginning to sound like a broken record: complex nose, rich and robust flavors, barrel-proof strength, and $75. Would I buy it again? Yes. Every time. 4.5 on the Distiller scale. My rating: 4.5 Community: m=4.15, z=-0.81, n=190 (moderately worse than all ECBPs) 118.2 proof. 12-year age statement. Both of these ECBP releases have without-a-doubt bourbon profiles, with the volume pushing full blast. They’re not perfect exemplars—my benchmarks are the 2019 William Larue Weller and George T. Stagg for higher proofs—and these fall short of that smoothness and the warm, enveloping, even soothing experiences that those bourbons provide. While I’ve listed some different descriptors—which are subjective and often times overlap and are not explicitly distinct—the two releases are more similar than they are different, and consistent with typical ECBP offerings. I rate them higher than the Distiller community. How many bourbons are that much better? Not many. I’ll happily savor these neat: like all ECBP releases, they offer both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure. N.B.: All spirits tasted neat in a Glencairn glass.