GSN Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A120

Each batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is an uncut Small Batch of 12-year-old Bourbon bottled straight from the barrel. The variance in proof from batch to batch presents a unique opportunity to explore the impact of the angel’s share and the resulting proof in a small batch of barrels.

The first letter of the batch number indicates which of that year’s releases the bottle was a part of, starting with “A,” while the second digit is a number that determines the month of the year the bottle was released. The third and fourth digits indicate the year. This latest expression is the first release bottled in January of 2020.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A120 (136.6 proof)
Visual: Dark amber.
Nose: Sweet brown sugar, medium oak char and roasted nuts with some slight tinges of orange peel and tobacco.
Taste: Lots of oak and some baking spice. There is a lot of intense heat and compactness to the whiskey that really begs for a goodly splash of water. Things brings more of a smooth sweetness to the affair and the tannic qualities are more supportive.
Finish: Lasting impressions of oak cask and perhaps even bittersweet cacao. A peppery fadeout.
Overall: As with all Elijah Craig barrel proof expressions, this one is another winner. If anything, this one has more of the barrel in it than the 2019 releases.
GSN Rating: A-

For more information go to: Elijah Craig