Company: Elijah Craig
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery
Region: Louisville, Kentucky
Aging: 13 Years 7 Months
ABV: 66.5% ABV
Proof: 133.0 Proof
Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
MSRP Price: $75
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch C923 Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Amber
Nose: Rich caramel, brown sugar, molasses, oak, vanilla, creme brulee, baking spice, anise seed, leather, tobacco, hints of citrus, and cinnamon apple
Palate: Buttery caramel, charred oak, tannic spice, tobacco, leather, black pepper, buttery brown sugar, cinnamon toast, dark fruits
Finish: Long heavy finish full of rich bourbon flavors that immediately coats your entire mouth with an oily and buttery mouthfeel – leaves you with heavy oak and caramel flavors with an oaky tannic spice, cinnamon, and black pepper on the tail end
Is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch C923 an Approachable Whiskey?
Elijah Craig Batch C923 is a whopping 66.5% ABV which is one of the highest whiskeys I have ever tasted.
Yet, it drinks a lot smoother than you would think.
This pour is full of big and bold flavors that may be a bit overwhelming for beginners who aren’t used to barrel-proof whiskeys.
If you’re a fan of cask strength and barrel-proof whiskeys though, this bottle drinks extremely smoothly for its proof point.
Is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch C923 Complex?
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 is a complex bourbon with a ton of depth and flavor.
Since this is the oldest of the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases to date at 13 years and 7 months, it has extremely rich and deep caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors.
I have written reviews of Elijah Craig Batch C922, Elijah Craig Batch A123, Elijah Craig Batch B523 and this is by far the most complex and most enjoyable of the bottles.
The nose is just brilliant with everything you could ask for from a 13-year bourbon.
Usually, with a whiskey that is 66.5% ABV you would really get a powerful alcohol note on the nose, but this one is quite smooth and full of sweet and spice flavors.
On the palate, the first sip will really wake up your taste buds with bold bourbon flavors and a nice level of heat and spice.
As you continue to sip, your taste buds will start finding deeper layers of flavor with each sip.
What are Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch C923’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Elijah Craig Batch C923’s strongest attribute is that this whiskey is 66.5% ABV and drinks smoother than many whiskeys with far less alcohol.
It took me a while to find this bottle so I have been hearing about it for the past couple of months and everyone said it drinks much smoother than its proof point.
Now that I have tasted it, I can confirm that it does indeed drink smoother than its proof point.
It’s really impressive how smooth and rich this pour is.
Is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch C923 a go-to whiskey?
If I could get Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 on a regular basis, this would absolutely be a whiskey I would drink on a regular basis.
Since it is relatively limited and a one-time release, this is a bottle I will be saving for special occasions or to share with friends who really appreciate well-aged bourbons.
Is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch C923 worth its price tag?
Elijah Craig Batch C923 delivers on its price tag and is worth every penny.
I’m honestly surprised that the price is still only $75 on this bottle and think it delivers well above its price point.
I would buy up as many of these as you can find and it is one of the better deals on the market right now.
Conclusion for Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – Batch C923
Elijah Craig has done a nice job on their Barrel Proof bottles in the past, but this Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 is the best one I have tasted.
This is a bottle that has delivered on all the hype surrounding it and is an excellent testament to Elijah Craig’s commitment to delivering high-quality bottles even though they removed the requirement of Barrel Proof Batches to be aged a minimum of 12 years.
I would not be surprised if these bottles start rising in price so I would be sure to get this one now if you can find it on the shelf.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
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Thanks for reading and cheers!
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