Went to the store last night...

[BourbonGuy]

They had a bourbon tasting. Free samples! My first disclaimer. My ability to taste is not nearly as acute as the members here. Plus these were the best conditions to taste, so please forgive me if I am not as specfic as fellow members on this site.

First was I.W. Harper bourbon. I remember this name from when I was a kid. I tasted it and it seemed thin without a lot going for it. Not much flavor.

Second we Blade and Bow. Fresh friut came to mind. Much fruiter than most I have tried.

Third was I.W. Harper 15 year. No fruit like the B&B, spicy, more body than the regular Harper. The price was $88.

I walked away from the three.

Then I saw Elijah Craig for $24.65. But something was wrong with the label. The little Red 12 at the bottom was missing! Had this now become a NAS like Old Weller Antique 7 year? On the back label, it states: "Perfection takes time and at 12 years old, Elijah Craig makes it worth the wait." This has me worried that that will soon be gone and they are breaking people in now to the NAS it may become. Does this mean it is still a 12 year? Should I be stocking up?

Then the owner comes over. Asks me to try Rittenhouse bottled in Bond Rye. Also $24.83, similar to the Elijah Craig. Very spicy was my first thought. I had to tink a bit.

I purchased the Elijah Craig. The blade and bow was $53.18. A lot considering I could have purchased the Rittenhouse and Elijah and still had money left over. BTW: The Blade and Bow 22 year was around $179.99. That was not offered as something to taste.

Edited July 11, 2015 by BourbonGuy

[jackthedog]

It's my understanding that that age statement has just been moved to the back label to standardize the EC labels.

IW Harper is just starting to hit the shelves around me. Thanks for the notes.

[squire]

It's my understanding that that age statement has just been moved to the back label to standardize the EC labels.

[jackthedog]

Oh, right, are they also removing the age statement from the 18, 20, 21 or 23 year old? I thought not, anyway that's the story and they're sticking to it and if that's the best they can do I wish they had remained silent. Does anyone know of a single instance where the age statement was taken off the front ever to return?

[squire]

I really don't care if they use a blend of 6-8-12 year old stock, just be upfront about it. Frankly 12 is a bit old for my tastes anyway and the mixed year blend could be a better whisky, but 12 is how they started so they're stuck with the number until the brand can be reformed in a new image. Which may be sooner than we think what with the EC family expanding into flavored varieties.

[danz]

Squire, what's this about flavored Elijah Craig? That's really discouraging, if true.

[SqueakScolari]

They had a bourbon tasting. Free samples! My first disclaimer. My ability to taste is not nearly as acute as the members here. Plus these were the best conditions to taste, so please forgive me if I am not as specfic as fellow members on this site.

First was I.W. Harper bourbon. I remember this name from when I was a kid. I tasted it and it seemed thin without a lot going for it. Not much flavor.

Second we Blade and Bow. Fresh friut came to mind. Much fruiter than most I have tried.

Third was I.W. Harper 15 year. No fruit like the B&B, spicy, more body than the regular Harper. The price was $88.

I walked away from the three.

Then I saw Elijah Craig for $24.65. But something was wrong with the label. The little Red 12 at the bottom was missing! Had this now become a NAS like Old Weller Antique 7 year? On the back label, it states: "Perfection takes time and at 12 years old, Elijah Craig makes it worth the wait." This has me worried that that will soon be gone and they are breaking people in now to the NAS it may become. Does this mean it is still a 12 year? Should I be stocking up?

Then the owner comes over. Asks me to try Rittenhouse bottled in Bond Rye. Also $24.83, similar to the Elijah Craig. Very spicy was my first thought. I had to tink a bit.

I purchased the Elijah Craig. The blade and bow was $53.18. A lot considering I could have purchased the Rittenhouse and Elijah and still had money left over. BTW: The Blade and Bow 22 year was around $179.99. That was not offered as something to taste.

ya done good son

[squire]

Squire, what's this about flavored Elijah Craig? That's really discouraging, if true.

No, not yet I don't think, the last sentence of my post was poorly written. Should edit more carefully. What I was thinking about was the expansion of the Elijah Craig name to include a broader range. For instance, Elijah Craig Bourbon Flavored Marinade, the label of which is quite close to the one worn on their Bourbon right down to the typeface and color scheme.

Of course they could also follow Knob Creek down that Maple lined path.