Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 (95)

This batch comes in at 133 proof (66.5%). The nose is hot. I decided to let this open up for a few more minutes. After that I got sweet oak, vanilla, black pepper and spice. I then got a few floral notes with some honey in there as well. This whiskey is RICH. There is an amazing viscosity that I really enjoy and there is a depth of flavor. I also get candy sweetness. A pleasant, buttery mouthfeel for sure. The finish is long and continues to have the honey note for me. I added a drop of water and I felt like it added a campfire smokiness to the palate. The water took away from the mouthfeel so that would not be my preference here. There’s a complexity here that reminds me of the first batch I ever had of ECBP

JTS Brown Bottled in Bond
JTS Brown Bottled in Bond (90)

The first thing that I notice is that this whiskey is not overly complex. But then again, at about $15, I don’t think it’s supposed to be. With that being said, it is interesting that the nose brings darker, dusty notes but the palate is much brighter. Even though there is a slight metallic note, this is one of the VERY FEW whiskeys at this price point that I don’t mind drinking neat.