Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch B522

Vital Stats: Aged at least 12 years in new American oak barrels with level 3 char. 60.5% ABV. Mash bill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye, SRP $60/ 750ml bottle.

Appearance: Golden amber in color.

Nose: This opens with an aroma of sweet vanilla with bruised apple and a dash of animal hide. This has notes of brown bread and roasted grain. There’s a touch of straw and grassiness with a hint of cinnamon. The spirit has a numbing and minty effect on the nose likely due to the high alcohol content. Aeration brings forward the animal notes, veering into a note of clean horse barn and old leather.

Palate: Fiery spice on the first sip, this is painful to the palate yet has a slinky feel to the texture. There’s a hint of tannin, but it’s buried under the sinus-clearing sting of the alcohol. Flavors are difficult to bring forward what with the burning of the taste buds. There’s a note of old wood and sawdust, giving this cantankerous spirit an aged and venerable impression. The finish fades into notes of hot iron, spun sugar, and damp charcoal.