Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrel Proof Batch B517

The second release of the 12-year-old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof for 2017, B517 (signifying May 2017), is now available. Although it has a lower proof than the earlier A117 release, it remains bold and full of flavor. The nose immediately offers aromas of buttered popcorn, complemented by baking spice, dried ginger, barrel char, and butterscotch. The palate follows suit, though it reveals a more bittersweet profile with pronounced tannic notes of scorched wood on the finish. Adding water enhances the experience, bringing out flavors of brown sugar, orange peel, and sweet licorice candy, and helps to tame the bourbon's bitter, barrel-driven elements.