I was able to snag an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B525 last week. I am lucky if I get one a year; despite four releases per year demand is incredibly high for this whiskey. Often, it is easier to find store picks of this bourbon rather than the standard releases. This one isn’t quite twelve years old as they have been in prior releases, but this got pulled at 11 years six months at 126.2 proof. As a reminder, Ellijah Craig has a low rye mashbill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye. This cost me just shy of $80 at Hokus Pokus.

The color on this is a very deep amber with a reddish hue reflecting its long barrel aging. On the swirl is a rich film and the legs take a long time to develop; this oily bourbon defies gravity. On the nose is a very traditional bourbon with emphasis on vanilla, caramelized sugars, molasses, and Horween leather. On the palate, this bourbon is super rich, with vanilla, caramel, toffee, a hint of clove and cardamom. In the background is flavors of plum and dark cherries. This bourbon has a lot of bold flavors but is very smooth on the palate especially given the proof. The mouthfeel is medium. On the finish, what little alcohol burn that is there makes itself known, but it is still fairly gentle, with notes of oak, espresso, baking spices, but without being dry and excessively tannic.

This is definitely an improvement over B524. This is a refined bourbon flavor bomb that is well balanced and smooth. I understand that some Elijah Craig releases have to be released well shy of 12 years because the barrels are at such high proof that further aging would make them undrinkable. But, originally, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof was twelve years old, and the closer they can keep this cask strength bourbon at that age, the better.