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Whiskey Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C917

We review Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C917, Heaven Hill's last barrel proof Elijah Craig offering of 2017.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

12-year-old bourbon, specifically released in September, 2017. Bottled at barrel proof of 131.0.
Appearance:
Amber with a copper hue that makes it darker and redder than average.
Nose:
The high proof is certainly apparent from the first whiff, but not overpowering, leaving room for the scent of a richly sweet vanilla with notes of orange and oak. That gradually gets a bit earthier with notes of caramel, apple, oak, and cinnamon,
Palate:
My first, undiluted sip started out with the sweetness of light, floral honey, but that only lasted a moment before an intense wave of cinnamon- and clove-like spiciness generally overwhelmed my palate. Given that potency, the finish was surprisingly mild with notes of smoky, earthy caramel and nutmeg. While I don’t typically dilute my drams for tasting, I did so in this case as the accompanying press release suggests. Adding a dash of water certainly curbed the intensity enough for me to further ponder the flavors I perceived – more vanilla on entry, more pepper in the middle and finish – but the overall flavor profile doesn’t change much except to make it more approachable.
Finish:
Comments:
Although I’m torn as to whether I see routine releases of cask-strength batches as empowering the whiskey lovers or just a cop out, I can’t find anything to fault in this whiskey. It’s smooth and has a nice ebb and flow between spiciness, and the distillers encourage drinkers to add water to each person’s individual tastes. That said, I found nothing particularly jaw-dropping about C917. It’s smooth and above average but predictable and not likely to surprise.

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.

Aaron Knapp

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