Ahh A124. The youngest ECBP to date. Is this truly worthy of all the hate? Let’s find out. Nose is definitely subdued with candied orange, minerals, cinnamon, berry, sweet corn, and…not much else. Really pesky ethanol keeps coming in and making things worse. Not a good start. (Ok after a while the mineral note vanished and ethanol decreased. Weird.) Thank goodness things improve massively on the palate; butterscotch, black cherry, soft mature oak, nutmeg, tobacco, and brown sugar. Flavors are less punchy than I am used to from this expression, but also well integrated and rounded. Finish gets even better with caramel, vanilla creme, cinnamon sugar, creme brûlée burnt sugar, white pepper, chocolate, oak, mint, leather, and barrel char. Honestly, a great blend of sweet and spicy notes here. On the longer side of medium. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a hint of effervescence which actually serves this pretty well. Let’s get something straight; this is NOT an inferior release. Just…different. Where as often times ECBP bludgeons you, this one is a gentleman. Comes across a little more like a “daily drinker” type whiskey vs a “special occasion” bottle and while that is a departure for the line it’s not a bad thing if you ask me. Anyone who says this is shitty because it doesn’t have a 12+ year age statement is smoking crack. At $89.99, there’s nothing to find sweious fault with here as I’ve paid a lot more for a lot less. Bring on B524.