Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

[bicktrav]

Seen several bottles at several shops here in SoCal. Unfortunately all have been tagged at around $100, which might explain the commonness.

[BillP]

I'm glad I got a few in NJ out of sheer luck. I searched here in CO and there's nothing listed for over 200 miles.

I wonder if I can find a place around here with enough volume and few enough HH/ECBP drinkers to get another bottle..

[The Good Sir]

I love this offering! Kind of wrong thread but thought it be nice to be here.

Another one down the drain taken with the others still not yet in the dumpster. Maybe saving the empties and create a backdrop in my new bar space later on

This is my go to every day pour. Will always start with one or two before going to the others if that.

[ATTACH]18904[/ATTACH]

Big final pour with melted ice but sometimes drink with iced and it's syrupy and yummy if I can't wait.

[ATTACH]18905[/ATTACH]

One of those things is not like the others. Not giving any hints.

[greatgoo]

Just cracked open a bottle tonight. Holy smokes is it delicious.

[mbroo5880i]

It is delicious. Unfortunately, it is difficult for those who paid $39.99 to $42.99 for recent releases to justify paying $59.99 and greater, as a lot of retailers seem to feel is the new price level. I will continue to scout for original or slightly higher pricing or pass.

[Restaurant man]

It is delicious. Unfortunately, it is difficult for those who paid $39.99 to $42.99 for recent releases to justify paying $59.99 and greater, as a lot of retailers seem to feel is the new price level. I will continue to scout for original or slightly higher pricing or pass.

[HP12]

I agree. I would not scoff at a $60 ECBP. The original $40 and $45 MSRP is a steal. It's just a matter of time before it's much more than current MSRP. And no doubt, some day in the not so distant future, some will be crying "damn, why didn't I by more at that price".

[bicktrav]

I've seen quite a few bottles priced at $100 recently. They aren't exactly flying off the shelves with that tag, but they are selling nonetheless, which means the days of the sub $50 ECBP are gone. And rightfully so. It's an amazing bourbon. The $45 price tag was far too low. $100 may be too high, but it's still a heck of a lot cheaper than EC 21, and it's worlds better. I don't mind paying up for the barrel proof. I very much minded paying up for the 21.

Edited August 16, 2014 by bicktrav

[The Black Tot]

I also have never seen one in a store, yet.

I hope I find some before it hits 60 regularly.

tbt

[GaryT]

When you consider that Bookers (one of the few widely available barrel proofers out there) runs $55, and is 7-8 yrs old, even $60 is a bargain for 12 yr old barrel proof whiskey (not to mention damn nice 12 yr old barrel proof whiskey!) That being said, I'd love to continue paying less for it

[Phil T]

I've seen quite a few bottles priced at $100 recently. They aren't exactly flying off the shelves with that tag, but they are selling nonetheless, which means the days of the sub $50 ECBP are gone..

Not so in Ohio. . $43.95 out the door

[jwilson82]

Not so in Ohio. . $43.95 out the door

$44.95 around here. Unfortunately their allocation was spoken for 2 minutes after the email went out

[PaulO]

One positive note. This is regular HH bourbon at 12 years and barrel proof. The supply should eventually get a bit closer to level of demand. We're not talking about something from a closed distillery, or some NDP company that doesn't know where the next barrels will come from. Stores seem to gradually getting bottles here and there. The prices are all over the place. ECBP is one of the scarce bottles I hunt for with expectations to eventually find. I found one early on. Had that not happened, I wouldn't know how much I like it.

[mbroo5880i]

I don't disagree about its value at $60 but as Paul mentions, the price is all over the place. I ran across it recently in Northern Indiana where the price for a recent release (#5) was $42.99. A large local Indy retailer just sent an email with a price of $59.99 for a limited number of bottles of release #6. Now, its availability in the Indy area is sporadic and it is difficult to find so they are pricing based on market and demand. However, I know the same situation exists in the case of the Northern Indiana store and they are pricing at or closer to MSRP. Obviously, I am not driving back to Northern Indiana to try to buy a bottle for $17 less so as I mentioned I will continue to watch and see how the availability and pricing are before I pay a 33% premium. Of course, my perspective is based on the fact that I have a couple of bottles. If I didn't, I would have jumped all over the $59.99 price.

Let me add that my perception of the pricing was also shaded by the price they were asking for a bottle of Black Maple Hill (presumably the new version), which was $99.99.

[petrel800]

I don't disagree about its value at $60 but as Paul mentions, the price is all over the place. I ran across it recently in Northern Indiana where the price for a recent release (#5) was $42.99. A large local Indy retailer just sent an email with a price of $59.99 for a limited number of bottles of release #6. Now, its availability in the Indy area is sporadic and it is difficult to find so they are pricing based on market and demand. However, I know the same situation exists in the case of the Northern Indiana store and they are pricing at or closer to MSRP. Obviously, I am not driving back to Northern Indiana to try to buy a bottle for $17 less so as I mentioned I will continue to watch and see how the availability and pricing are before I pay a 33% premium. Of course, my perspective is based on the fact that I have a couple of bottles. If I didn't, I would have jumped all over the $59.99 price.

Let me add that my perception of the pricing was also shaded by the price they were asking for a bottle of Black Maple Hill (presumably the new version), which was $99.99.

The high prices ($100+) on ECBP I've seen seem to be in shops that are only getting 1 bottle of it. My guess is they are being told by their distributor that it is rare/allocated/etc and they in turn are pricing it based on that information. Beyond that, in the stores where it appears they are getting a case or 2, it's MSRP or a few bucks more. The last few batches seem to have made there way from behind the counter and off the list to the shelves as well, or at least that's my experience lately.

[amg]

A large local Indy retailer just sent an email with a price of $59.99 for a limited number of bottles of release #6. Now, its availability in the Indy area is sporadic and it is difficult to find so they are pricing based on market and demand. However, I know the same situation exists in the case of the Northern Indiana store and they are pricing at or closer to MSRP. Obviously, I am not driving back to Northern Indiana to try to buy a bottle for $17 less so as I mentioned I will continue to watch and see how the availability and pricing are before I pay a 33% premium. Of course, my perspective is based on the fact that I have a couple of bottles. If I didn't, I would have jumped all over the $59.99 price.

From the proof specified in the email, I was under the impression that these are batch #5 bottles that either the chain or the distributor have been sitting on. It's in line with the markup on most of the bourbons and ryes there. I won't be surprised if their FRSB BP selections are $65+.

They're the first store that has actually given me an opportunity to get a bottle of ECBP, though, so I reserved one. $59.99 is right under my limit for this one.

[mbroo5880i]

From the proof specified in the email, I was under the impression that these are batch #5 bottles that either the chain or the distributor have been sitting on. It's in line with the markup on most of the bourbons and ryes there. I won't be surprised if their FRSB BP selections are $65+.

They're the first store that has actually given me an opportunity to get a bottle of ECBP, though, so I reserved one. $59.99 is right under my limit for this one.

Andrew, I am probably mixed up on my batch numbers. I will be honest. I still wish I would have requested a bottle. After reading others comments, yours included, I now realize that even at $59.99, it is still a bargain. I suspect that the train has already left the station.

[HighHorse]

I'd pay 59.99 for it. I think that is where it should have been priced. I'd like to see a blind tasting of 3 George t stags and 3 ETL BP's and see where the chips fall. GTS Is way more expensive and harder to get. Not diminishing your appraisal mbroo. Just my take on it.

[Old Dusty]

From the proof specified in the email, I was under the impression that these are batch #5 bottles that either the chain or the distributor have been sitting on. It's in line with the markup on most of the bourbons and ryes there. I won't be surprised if their FRSB BP selections are $65+.

They're the first store that has actually given me an opportunity to get a bottle of ECBP, though, so I reserved one. $59.99 is right under my limit for this one.

Yep, it's #5. And a still a bargain at $60. Was a complete steal at $40.

[luv2hunt]

The high prices ($100+) on ECBP I've seen seem to be in shops that are only getting 1 bottle of it. My guess is they are being told by their distributor that it is rare/allocated/etc and they in turn are pricing it based on that information. Beyond that, in the stores where it appears they are getting a case or 2, it's MSRP or a few bucks more. The last few batches seem to have made there way from behind the counter and off the list to the shelves as well, or at least that's my experience lately.

In Indiana, your assumption is wrong. Payless Liquors gets the largest allocation of bottles (verified by the distributor) and you can buy one for $99. Since all the bourbon lovers I know around Indy find it elsewhere for reasonable prices, I'm speculating that their online sales are taking care of it because it never see's a store shelf!

[MacinJosh]

In Indiana, your assumption is wrong. Payless Liquors gets the largest allocation of bottles (verified by the distributor) and you can buy one for $99. Since all the bourbon lovers I know around Indy find it elsewhere for reasonable prices, I'm speculating that their online sales are taking care of it because it never see's a store shelf!

Dawn is on to something here because it's a cold day in hell you find one on a shelf in Indy. It's only happened to me once.

[ChainWhip]

Dawn is on to something here because it's a cold day in hell you find one on a shelf in Indy. It's only happened to me once.

Must have been hellaciously cold that day...

=]b

[HP12]

Dawn is on to something here because it's a cold day in hell you find one on a shelf in Indy. It's only happened to me once.

Must have been hellaciously cold that day...

=]b

That's what I was thinking. Must have been during one of those polar vortex events last winter that swept thru the Hoosier state?! No one ventured out except Josh. Well played my man! :cool:

[Bourserker]

I'm in way late on this thread, but I'll plug this stuff too...its awesome! I finally cracked one of the two bottles I have a month or two ago. It's the 137 proof (batch 2?) offering. I might be going a bit out there, but it reminds me an awful lot of GTS. Dark, brooding, lots of chocolate and coffee notes. Really great stuff...especially for $40. I'm now kicking myself that I turned down 2 bottles of this from a local store a while back...had I only known at the time.

[Flyfish]

I'm in way late on this thread, but I'll plug this stuff too...its awesome! I finally cracked one of the two bottles I have a month or two ago. It's the 137 proof (batch 2?) offering. I might be going a bit out there, but it reminds me an awful lot of GTS. Dark, brooding, lots of chocolate and coffee notes. Really great stuff...especially for $40. I'm now kicking myself that I turned down 2 bottles of this from a local store a while back...had I only known at the time.

I'm always impressed by the self control exhibited by some SBers. I can never wait to open a bourbon I've never tried before. Mrs. F., on the other hand, is always saving stuff for her "next husband."