Ugh, EC 18YOSB is not to my liking

[arsbadmojo]

I recently aquired a bottle of the 15 year old PVW. To date, this was the oldest bourbon I had tried. I found it very enjoyable indeed.

Previously, Elijah Craig 12 Year Old was my favorite bourbon - and I still consider it to be my Go-To bourbon. So when I had an excuse to buy a new bottle of bourbon over the Holidays, I figured I'd be really pleased with the 18 Year old EC expression - I hoped it'd have the depth and complexity of EC12, with the benefits of the extra age as found in the PVW15.

How wrong I was. I can't find the proper words to describe the flavor - I keep coming back to 'resinous'. Woody in a bad way.

So - what went wrong? One possibility - is this perhaps a 'single barrel' issue? Does the melding of barrels provide a wider pallette of flavors that I'm just not used to?

It sure is pretty - the color is drop-dread gorgeous and it clings to a glass in the sexiest manner, but I just don't care for the taste. Maybe it'll grow on me?

[T47]

I posted almost the same thing early last year. I enjoyed EC 12 and thought the 18 would be naturally something I enjoyed as well. My first pour was not to my liking at all. One suggestion someone made was to put the bottle in the freezer and try it that way.
I had other bottles to move to so I just kind of pushed it aside. Late in the year I re-visited it and either it had mellowed, may tastes had changed, or both.
I found it more mellow, still slightly woody, but in a pleasant way. So don't give up on it yet. Might never be a favorite, but you might enjoy it.

[jburlowski]

EC can be very woody (but not always... it does vary some from barrel to barrel) and has a very dry finish. Definitely an acquired taste that is not for everyone.

I'm normal not a "oak" fan but, for some reason, I like this one.

[nor02lei]

I'm normal not a "oak" fan but, for some reason, I like this one.

John,

That is exactly the way I feel about this brand. Al roe I’ve only have had 1 bottle I might have struck lucky with the barrel.

Leif

[bluesbassdad]

I am largely in agreement with Todd and others who have already posted.

Yes, there is some variation among barrels. My taste has also changed over time. I strongly disliked my first bottle, liked the second, not so sure about the third (which was leaking around the cork upon arrival from Chicago -- that package smelled fine!).

I draw a rough analogy between EC18 and the more heavily peated scotches. All can take some getting used to, and yet all have their fans who like them from the first sip.

If you have the slightest interest in the Manhattan cocktail, be sure to try EC18 in one. With Martini & Rossi vermouth I find a ratio of 3:1 or even 4:1 is about right. The woody edge becomes a whole new dimension in combination with sweet vermouth.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[luv2hunt]

I strongly disliked my first bottle, liked the second, not so sure about the third

You guys are killing me here! Surely I can't be the only one who tries to spend her money on only the things we enjoy. If we didn't like the first bottle...... ............there will be NO SECOND bottle!

Dawn

[FlashPuppy]

I agree Dawn. There are too many bottles out there, which I do like, waiting for me to buy them.

[bluesbassdad]

Dawn,

There are several forces at work in my case.

I wanted to like EC18 for personal reasons.

One reason to favor single-barrel bottlings is the variation among barrels.

In a semi-blind tasting of four bourbons I once rated my stated favorite at the bottom. Accordingly, I don't even start to trust my perceptions until I've had numerous occasions to taste a given bottling.

However, in the main I agree with you and Jeremy. Especially now that I have irrevocably left the world of income-earners by moving into the sticks, I tend to limit my purchases to bottlings I already know and like.

Yours truly,
Dave Morefield

[ggilbertva]

You guys are killing me here! Surely I can't be the only one who tries to spend her money on only the things we enjoy. If we didn't like the first bottle...... ............there will be NO SECOND bottle!

Dawn

I'm with you Dawn. There are way too many selections that I enjoy or want to try to justify going back to a bottle that I just didn't enjoy. I still have a bottle of Basil Hayden that I'll probably never drink again.....

[bobbyc]

I still have a bottle of Basil Hayden that I'll probably never drink again....

I think the discussion just rounded another corner. I read what Dawn says as if she doesn't like it she doesn't buy it again and you are saying you won't drink it again.