What is it about Elijah Craig?

Jeff nailed it when he said you love EC 12 or hate it. I can't for the life of me understand how anyone could fail to love EC 12. Not that I think anyone "should' like EC 12 just because I think it's great, it just always surprises me when I hear someone say it doesn't float their boat. It is at the top of the heap for me along with a mere handful of others. The only bourbons that come close to it, IMHO, are all much more expensive, at least here in Japan. The Evan Williams line, what I have tried of it, the 7 the 12 plus a couple of different Single Barrels, always disappoint me, not because they are at all bad, but because they don't taste enough like their sibling EC 12. (Of course, they are all Heaven Hill, but does anyone else note a family resemblance?)

This is, by a wide margin, the bourbon I drink the most, which surprises me as I tend to regard it as too precious to drink since I will have to buy another bottle as soon as the open one is empty and there are rank upon rank of bourbons and other whiskies that I feel deserve my attention as well.

http://www.straightbourbon.com/forum...ankyousign.gif Heaven Hill!
Ed

Count me among those who don't much care for it. I've brought it to parties and so forth, because the price is more than fair and other people seem to really enjoy it. In the same price bracket, I'll take Jim Beam Black over EC12 any day.

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This is, by a wide margin, the bourbon I drink the most, which surprises me as I tend to regard it as too precious to drink since I will have to buy another bottle as soon as the open one is empty and there are rank upon rank of bourbons and other whiskies that I feel deserve my attention as well.

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Okay, I have to go try this again....... Darn it!

Cheers,

Ken

Hi Ken,
You can try it again if you want to, you certainly don't have to. EC12 wasn't an acquired taste for me, more like love at first sight.
ED

I think I like it because it reminded me of a (for want of a better term) younger Bookers. It was big and bold like bookers, but without the real clout the Bookers has. It also has a charactaristic that reminds me of Evan Williams SB that I can't put my finger on.

I love it. It has an interesting flavor that some have described as "eucalyptus", but that doesn't pinpoint it, for me. I will just say that it has a "high note" that I don't get in any other bourbon.

That aside, it is complex and refined, very engaging. I once did a side-by-side with EWSB (I think it was '92, may have been '93) and they were very similar. Maybe I can find a link to my comparison.

Tim

Hi Tim,

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It has an interesting flavor that some have described as "eucalyptus", but that doesn't pinpoint it, for me.

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I can see what they are getting at, but "eucalyptus" isn't what I would say either. I am afraid to say what it brings to my mind as it might put people off, but here goes. It is more of a menthol-camphor flavor or may be finish is a better word. I remember sitting out on my porch with a very small charcoal fire going in a hibachi. I wasn't cooking, the fire was just for company. I was drinking Elijah Craig 12, neat. Something about the fire really brought out the camphor note in the bourbon. It was just wonderful. It also gave me a bit of insight into why some people might not like it as well as I do. I have very positive associations with camphor. If it makes you think of the time when you were four years old and put a mothball into your mouth, then EC 12 might not do it for you.
Ed

I'm also firmly entrenched in the camp that loves the EC12. Much moreso than the 18. I maily love it because dollar for depth of flavour, nothing else comes close. However, everytime I try it, I notice a resemblance to Rare Breed. Both have great depth of flavours, especially a sharp oak/tannin element. The EC12, because of it's boldness of taste actually feels hotter than it's 94 proof suggests. I put it in the 100proof/BIB category, only because I feel it belongs there.

I find at times I enjoy this bourbon, but less at other times. The "sharp oak" note is what I call "fresh wood". Some samples of EC 12 show it more than others. I prefer EC 18 year old and it too varies depending on bottling and precise age. When I have both I often mingle them.

I would call all these bourbons vigorous and excellent values, too, good for neat sampling but also mixing (cocktails) and mingling.

Gary

Count me in with the EC12 lovers. But I also love the EC18...probably my favorite bourbon so far....but I am just a beginner.