An hour away from Louisville there's a lovely town of Bardstown where almost a century ago two brothers decided to make Whiskey. Right after Prohibition they set up shop and became the largest family-owned distillery in America in just a few decades. Heaven Hill Distillery is still owned by the Shapira family and they have no intentions to stop making the best Bourbon. Two Master Distillers, Denny Potter and Jodie Filiatreau, combine their experience and knowledge for the magic of Whiskey-making and produce critically acclaimed Spirits that amaze every Whiskey lover.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon, named Whisky of the year 2017 by Whisky Advocate is an experience of Bourbon in its purest form, uncut and straight from the cask. Aged for long 12 years in new charred oak barrels, every Whisky is in danger of being dominated by the oak flavor. But a sip of Elijah Craig brings forth phenomenal flavors and glamorous aromas. It's Bourbon at its apex and it will definitely offer you a big warm Kentucky Hug. Get two bottles: one to share with your seasoned friends, and one for yourself alone. Let your first sip be straight and taste the magic, then add a few drops of water and fine-tune the flavor.
What does Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon taste like?
The Flavor Spiral™ shows the most common flavors that you'll taste in Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon and gives you a chance to have a taste of it before actually tasting it.
We invented Flavor Spiral™ here at Flaviar to get all your senses involved in tasting drinks and, frankly, because we think that classic tasting notes are boring.
Dog Dogson's
Smartass Corner
Bourbons are very high in vanilla, as American White Oak is naturally high in vanillins.
This is the way I like my bourbon sweet and strong.
Ray,
If you're looking for something with a punch, this is it. Despite it's power, the flavors are incredible, especially at this price point. Lot's of heat from start to finish. Just a touch of oak and toffee on the palette and more of the same on the Finish. Not for the faint of heart.
Mason,
Creamy and sweet!
Joshua,
A little harsher than the Small Batch version but still pretty good, not as much of a vanilla finish.
guest,
Brown sugar, vanilla, perfect amount of oak, Brown butter, nutty. Maybe a little dark fruit.
Easily one of the best bottles I’ve ever purchased. WOW.
guest,
Textbook Classic burbon with extra kick. Buy again
Orlando,
My favorite bourbon. I have tried a couple different batches and they are all good. Lots of vanilla, toffee and caramel flavors. It's fantastic. Worth every penny at $70
Ron,
On the nose, probably one of the best smelling burbons on the market, rich caramels, brown sugar, maple syrup,
but it is HOT on the pallet, for me I def need a cube or a few drops of water to enjoy, but to get a 12yr old burbon for under $70...still a great value
Michael,
Fantastic. Classic bourbon taste, complex enough and substantial feel and finish. Outstanding!
Stephen,
B520 - it is hot but has a delicious nose of caramel vanilla and solid taste that matches. overall really good and don't regret the purchase. May buy another if I find it locally.
Lauren,
A120. Sweet, vanilla, and very smooth/creamy. Packs a punch because of the proof, but has a very rich and velvety mouth feel.
Bryan,
9.5
Brian,
This stuff is amazing. So far I've only tried it neat, but probably won't do more than add one ice cube in the future
At 127 proof, it's smoother and has less burn than a lot of well respected 80-proof (Knob Creek, Four Roses, and Woodford come to mind) bourbons I've had on the rocks.
At $65, this is an incredible value and may well be my new go-to bourbon, although the others will still be on hand for cocktails.
Richard,
Delicious, but very strong. Even with some water to open it up it still burns all the way down. It is by far the strongest proof whiskey I've had. This is borderline between good once, and good and would buy again.
Andres,
Smells like sweet vanilla/caramel and tastes like cinnamon and it’s toasted
Bryan,
One of the best valued bourbons you can get! Highly recommend finding a bottle or two to add to your collection. Especially for the proof hounds out there (B520)
George,
Love
TYLER,
What batch did you receive? C919, A120, or B520? Thank you for the help
Judy,
very good: a bit too strong for me to drink, but great to sip.
Seth,
Very smooth for such a high proof. One of the highest value bourbons I've tried.
Carl,
Most flavorful bourbon I've tried. Needs a little water to take away the harshness and open up the flavors.
Ben,
Incredibly flavorful bourbon with strong notes of vanilla, caramel and a little cinnamon. Very smooth given the proof but with a good burn. I already picked up a second bottle. Batch C919
Seth,
Admittedly, I’m a proof-hound. But this 136-proof beauty is smooth. The taste is incredibly nice. I’ve finished one bottle. I hope to finish many more
John,
excellant palette and nose with hints af Carmel. Very smooth for a high proof.
Mark,
Very, very dangerous. The first sip knocks you back on your heels a bit, but the second? It's delicious, and it's like there's no way this is 135+ proof. Enjoy. With care.
guest,
One of the best I’ve had. It’s right up there with GTS .
Steven,
My favorite tasting bourbon!
Daniel,
Tastes delicious for such a high proof
Tom,
Love it! Wow this is where its at!
Thomas,
Not opened
Ara,
Brown sugar and cinnamon on the nose. Sweet spice on the palate. Nice burn and finish.
John,
Depending on the batch, this is top notch bourbon at an affordable price
Philip,
C919 for the win
Jacqueline,
Delicious kick! Whoooo! Will be one of my favs!
Dan,
Needs some ice- but delicious
SCOTT,
Batch B518 is my favorite. Almost like chewing the liquid it is so complex. Taste lingers forever. A real sipper neat.
Timothy,
It’s a hit with me, the right bite then you get smooth glass after glass. Best served neat.
Jeremy,
Batch A120
After a taste of this, I know what it’s like to perform as a fire breather at Disney World. There is a reason EC is not usually bottled at 136.6 proof. Cooled down with steel cubes and splashed with water, it’s quite flavorful though lacking some of those sweeter notes I prefer. Got an earthier flavor similar to a good Irish whiskey.
Elizabeth,
It's a bit harsh. Prefer the lesser alcohol content and taste of the regular Elijah Craig small batch.
Terry,
Tried neat...wow. Burn from top to bottom. Added bit of water...wow. I get it. Vanilla, caramel and oak. Long smooth finish.
Brad,
This bourbon is special. It doesn’t have that blaze of fire you’d expect from something 130+ proof. Great flavors that last. This is definitely a special one
Dimitri,
Flavor profile is awesome if you like bourbons (Vanilla, Oak, Caramel, butterscotch and fruits). I don't get the cinnamon. I'd add quite a bit of water though (bottle lasts longer). It's strong obviously!
Allen,
(C919). The real deal. Sweet with a lot of spice/cinnamon in the foreground. At this proof it hits hard. I mostly take a bit of water or even an ice cube with this one. Not cheap but you won't find much cheaper at this level.
Robert,
Delicious bourbon with a hell of a burn. I received the C919 at 136.8 proof and man does it deliver. Most days I would drink this neat at the high proof but every once in a while a few drops of water also open up so many more flavors on the palate and on the nose. Highly recommend!
Russell,
An excellent choice. Not inexpensive but worth it. If you like Elijah Craig, grab this one. You won't be disappointed.
Dick,
C919 is my favorite, a wonderful mouthful
David,
Good with plenty of cherry, brown sugar, fruity and oaky. Finish is shorter than I would have expected at this proof. A bit dry as well.
Barry,
Proof was so high it was hard to taste. Easy to overdue as well. :0)
Erik,
One of the best barrel proof bottles on the market, affordable and not hard to find combined with exceptional flavor. Cant go wrong
Liz,
This one made me doubt my whiskey tastebuds. It is fire on the front, middle and end and that's about all that was there for me. Tried with some water...still fire. I like a little heat but this one let me know exactly where the bottom of my stomach was. Really disappointed. I expected more complex flavors and for me, they were not there. This one will need to be drowned in a glass of soda to finish.
Conor,
I smelled cherries and vanilla before sipping. My wife (from across the room) smelled the nutty notes. This whiskey is strong, my particular batch is 67.4%. Yet, surprisingly smooth. I look forward to enjoying and exploring the rest of this bottle.
Andrew,
Thick butterscotch coats the palette. Tingly lips. Opens up with some water. Long finish.
Cliff,
Excellent high test. As is true for most barrel strength whiskey, the initial sip is quite hot. I'd go so far as to say it can be a bit challenging. But it is also rewarding. Rich and complex, with caramel and some nice citrus notes. I'm told it mellows and opens up with a bit of water, but I really enjoy the heat. Give it some respect, and you will be rewarded.
Steven,
I've enjoyed the aroma and the buttery feel on the tongue. Must have a spot of water or allow ice to melt slightly to mellow the 130 proof. Not my favorite but still very worth the cost.
Dan,
Very good.
James,
Packs a punch and tastes pretty good, but not very interesting. I usually use 2-3 ice cubes to mellow it, and after a few minutes it’s enjoyable.... but not my favorite.
Michael,
Absolutely adore the wide range of inviting flavors and sweet loveliness of this amazing whisky. The flavors rule, but watch out, 130+ proof will put a hurting' on you if you're not careful!
Gerald,
Sharp with complex layers of spiciness. Cinnamon stands out for me with undertones of tart apple and scorched sugars. The feel of butter and caramel had me guessing...butter toffee finish perfected, with a bit of heat in the belly. I absolutely love it! I have about a double shot left and will savor it in drams.
Benjamin,
Really bold and tasty, if you can get past the extra heat it’s a very complex and interesting bourbon. Nose - warm brown sugar and toasted caramel start things off, some apple and dried fruit, then a bit of orange cream, a hint of cinnamon, cloves and barrel spice.
Taste - oily and sweet, melted butterscotch in flavor and texture, some cinnamon, a little citrus zest at the end and some subtle barrel spice.
Finish - spicy caramel with some solid oak spice in the background, a solid burn that lingers for awhile and you can feel it working its way down.
Josh,
A very strong, hot yet smooth and incredibly tasty bourbon. One of my all time favorites with strong caramel and vanilla upfront and hot butterscotch on the finish. Will always have a bottle on hand
Jason,
Unexpected smoothness for a barrel strength. Amazing value to boot. I'm buying another...
Joseph,
My favorite bourbon out. It’s strong tasty and smooth. No complaints and well worth the money
guest,
One of my all time favorites. Each batch comes out at a different barrel strength. A great value for an awesome bourbon. If you like barrel strength it’s one of the best that is somewhat readily available.
Michael,
Totally agree!
John,
It burns just right the caramel, the vanilla, the finish. Ahhhh...
Adam,
Solid flavor for a high proof. Would put it just a hair above Bookers.
Liz,
Very even mix of vanilla, caramel and oak with just hints of citrus and cinnamon. Just as advertised on the spiral.
Daniel,
Another great day! Smooth. Just the right amount of burn. Nice vanilla too
Joseph,
Perfect.
Skip,
Can spend a little time with this one! Great nose & delicious. Great price too!
Bob,
Great flavor, great price.
guest,
Smooth
Jonathan,
It’s good!
Blake,
My batch is B519. Absolutely incredible.
Color: dark amber, almost wood brown from the side of the bottle. The color foretells what they aromas and flavors will be!
Aroma: dark caramel, honey, barrel, pretty hot yet oily, almost humid.
Flavor: boom! Heat bursts out from under a thick and oily, DARK caramel and barrel, with a slight “ping” that some have called “mint”, but I’d contribute that to the barrel spice.
Finish: loooong and warming. I tend to sip my whiskey quickly, but this demands time and attention. It’s a fun whiskey!
I can’t say enough positive about this. Dark, thick, huge flavors. Enjoy!
david,
The most delicious juice ever made!!!
Waylon,
Which edition did you get? A119? B519? C919?
Bret,
Like others, I am impressed with how smooth it is for the 67.7ABV. If you like complex flavors this is it. Starts with warm caramel and vanilla. Continues to heat up as it works its way back on your tongue with charred oak and a hint of citrus. Great warm, spicey rye finish. Flavors linger for a long time. Just got a bottle of Noah's Mill 57.75 ABV, looking forward to a side by side with the 2 high ABV's.
Claudia,
For it being 122 proof, extremely easy to drink. This one will catch you off-guard if you are not careful.
Michael,
I can see why this won Whisky Advocate’s whisky of the year back in 2017. Very complex flavor that seems to tickle different taste buds every time I drink it. The bottle I have is over 67% ABV, so it’s quite a beast. Surprisingly easy to drink for this high of an ABV.
Timothy,
Smooth and delicious! A pleasure to the palate!
Burton,
This is a powerful, flavor packed dram. Baked brown sugar, caramel and cinnamon on the nose. Nice oily feel in the mouth. Lots of heat and chest warming. The high ABV fuels a lot of traditional bourbon flavors. Nicely done.
Andrew,
Probably the best cast/barrel proof I have even tasted. Traditional flavors with dates, plums, and a nice long finish.
S,
Nice and smooth great flavor
Paige,
Holy Barrel Proof! What a quality bourbon this is! For starters, it is absolutely spicy on the nose but not so much it masks the vanilla and caramel. I also got traces of cherry too. The high proof spice lingers on the palette but notes of oak and toasted marshmallow follow with grace. After a dram of this neat, I added 6.25mL of water to my next 1.5oz pour and let sit for a few minutes.This is where it became even more interesting...
Naturally, the spiciness cooled down but cinnamon and other fruits became abundant on the palette while more oak and brown sugar sweetness lingered on a medium long finish. Hands down one of my favorite Barrel Proof bourbons at the moment. Do yourself a favor and pick up a bottle, or two!
james,
strong,but smooth taste,great mouthfeel and med. to long finish! paid $65,not bad for a much in demand sip.
guest,
solid, reliably good BP whiskey, but not sure why flaviar is asking 100$ over typical store prices.
Adam,
Sweet start. Strong finish. The bite at the end of every drink is worth the $60 the bottle costs. Barrel proof is the way to go.
Nicholas,
Loved the strong taste and lasting impact of the bourbon. Great for sipping and enjoyed it being in your face the entire time.
william,
great go to whiskey at a more than reasonable price
Julius,
Amazing taste. LOL at the $147 price on here. I’ve never paid more than $75 for a bottle and as low as $60. The prices on here are a joke sometimes.
Orlando,
Word
John,
Elijah Craig has long been a favorite and the barrel proof is the winner overall in the line. It does however not stand up to other barrel proofs that have more flavor for less cost. It is still smooth and delicious, just not a favorite at the price point.
Scott,
One of my favorites, both on the nose and the flavor. The prices on here are a joke though. I've never paid more than $65, and Flaviar wants more than double that.
Gavin,
Lol @ the $210 price. It’s delicious, but it’s an $80 tops.
Brandon,
When you need that little kick. Strong grains and sweet introduction. Subtle end.
Tom,
Very enjoyable but there are better out there for a much better price in my opinion. Glad I got to try it but I see this the same as Johnny Walker Blue, it will not be a bottle I have to have again.
John,
Having had different batches, I can say without a doubt that the previous ones were truer to the flavor wheel and description. They were exceptional and leaving me wanting nothing else. The newer batch has more "heat" and much less of the caramel/vanilla/butterscotch overtones. Candidly, it lacks the character I appreciated of the other. Still good, but...
Mathew,
Too much heat for my preferences.
Richard,
Delicious, I tried original Elijah Craig some time ago and was leery about trying the barrel strength because I did not find it very pleasing but I have now found another favorite. It has lots of character from the wonderfully smooth sweet spicy start to the peppery hot finish. Keeps me wanting more.
Charles,
Try and you'll be hooked
Nathan,
Too strong to enjoy any flavor or other characteristics of the drink.
RICHARD,
Excellent. Good burn but nice and mellow.
Jeremy,
Another bench mark. Medium flavor toasted oak spice and caramel
Christina,
Had the famed second batch from 2017. A powerful drink with a mega spice bomb. Many flavors to find in the nose. You almost need to warm up to this proof with a weaker bourbon to start.
Barry,
Very good flavor. Smooth and nice finish.
Chad,
A beautifully smooth sweet almost syrupy feel. I enjoy this fine spirit when celebrating life.
Curtis,
Great bourbon, has a little robost in it from the barrel, but all around excellent for the cabinet!!
Michael,
Amazing. This, along with Russell's Reserve Single Barrel, are probably the closest I have found to rival the complexity and sheer strength of George T. Stagg. And this one edges out Russell's due to the higher proof. I love the oaky, leathery, and brilliantly-spicy palate.
Lee,
Over an ice block this is very pretty. Tried neat and it was way too hot for my taste.
Brett,
Smooth, simple.
guest,
Had it in a old fashioned and it was awesome
Ronald,
My daily dram. perfect for straight
Donald,
Very tasty, wonderful aroma.
Michael,
Love it. Very smooth.
Steve,
I have a couple of bottles of the B517 bottling and I have tried a couple other bottlings. They are all excellent and if you like the regular small batch and barrel proof bourbons this is a nice step up.
Ben,
Classic Bourbon with a lot of heat. To me, the heat was overpowering with certain meals and wouldn’t be able to enjoy as much as something else.
jordan,
One of the best barrel proofs out there. Try it neat first, you won't regret it!
Kurt,
Almost the perfect drink. Has that great vanilla, caramel note at the start. I really like the buttery, almost fruity finish with some heat on the finish. If you add a little water it calms the heat and gives it very smooth finish.
Scott,
I see another wrote, "Excellent, but not for the faint of heart." That's absolutely true. At the same time, adding an ice cube/a bit of water it opens up to an amazingly smooth & drinkable bourbon. Nice sweet finish.
Rory,
Without ice it is fire down your throat. Add a little ice and a little water and the flavor opens up. Once diluted it tends to come off pretty sweet and easy to approach.
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