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Whiskey Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B522

We review Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch B522. It's the second release of the popular cask strength bourbon in 2022.

OVERALL RATING

8
$60.00
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Elijah Craig B522 (image via Suzanne Bayard)

Tasting Notes

About:

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.
Finish:
Comments:
Personally, I found the proof to be a touch high for enjoying neat, but with time and a splash of water, the aromatics were extremely enjoyable. It tastes like a mature spirit, as it should, with intriguing aromas on the finish. Though the name may be surrounded in myth, it’s a fascinating foray of the history of American spirits. I humbly suggest sipping while reading some of the excellent deep dives into the history of bourbon linked above.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Suzanne Bayard

Suzanne Bayard struck out to the West Coast with her now husband almost a decade ago to explore the intersection of wine and policy in its world-class wine regions. She manages a Portland, OR bottle shop by day as the wine buyer and newsletter editor. She is also the Director of the Deep Roots Coalition, an organization of 30 Willamette Valley wineries that educate on and promote dry farming and sustainable practices. She joined the Whiskey Wash to explore two other passions: writing and whiskey.

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