Elijah Craig Small Batch?

[Guest]

Noticed this in my Daly Binny's Bourbon perusal:  

 

Elijah Craig Small Batch Private Barrel # 5024359 10 year old Binny's Handpicked

 

Anybody have any experience with these?   Curious -- seems like a new thing to me. Haven't seen it anywhere else and Binny's doesn't even have a picture...

[Guest]

Ahh well, here it is... Googlied it....  http://www.bardstownwhiskeysociety.com/brands/elijah-craig-small-batch.php  still curious on people's encounters with it and specifically the Handpicked...

 

[Charlutz]

Well, it would vary with the specific barrel. Unless you're ordering it online, it's a good excuse to head to the store and taste it. They will usually have a bottle open for people to try before they buy.

[Guest]

Thanks, didn't know that about the store tasting option.  I've definitely hopped in the car for less! 

 

I guess this is just the new bottle / name for Elijah Craig -- I got confused because of the no-picture thing and the Handpicked.  Will have to call ahead and see.  I can still find a few stragglers of the 12 year old left around.  May have to start vacuuming those up...

[mbroo5880i]

Even though they say small batch, I suspect these are private single barrel selections.  I don't have experience with these particular private barrels.  There look to be four of the them.  However, I have had EC single barrel picks before and they can be quite good.  Binny's does a great job with barrel selections so I would be tempted to give one or two a try.  

[flahute]

Heaven Hill is slowly opening back up the private barrel program. In the case of your store, "handpicked" means this is a single barrel selection by the store, for the store. It will still appear in the regular bottle that says "small batch" but will have a sticker applied indicating that it's a single barrel selection.

When stores do these, they are generally trying to achieve a profile very similar to the standard release so that non-geek customers aren't surprised.

Private groups may opt for a profile that differs in some way simply because it's really good.

[fanostra]

Just picked up this past weekend a bottle of each barrel # 5264264 and # 5253883 - both apparently 8 years old. Hoping to try them over Christmas (they aren't for me...). The location I was at did not have the 10 year at the time and looks like Binny's also has a 9 year.

 

I'm intrigued, as even though I'm not a huge HH/EC fan (love the ECBP though), all the private picks I've gotten from Binny's in the past have been quality. Would like to compare these to the EC12 for sure.

 

Will report back if I get the chance to crack in to them (and if not, I intend on returning to grab one for me anyway).

[Guest]

4 hours ago, fanostra said:

Just picked up this past weekend a bottle of each barrel # 5264264 and # 5253883 - both apparently 8 years old. Hoping to try them over Christmas (they aren't for me...). The location I was at did not have the 10 year at the time and looks like Binny's also has a 9 year.

 

I'm intrigued, as even though I'm not a huge HH/EC fan (love the ECBP though), all the private picks I've gotten from Binny's in the past have been quality. Would like to compare these to the EC12 for sure.

 

Will report back if I get the chance to crack in to them (and if not, I intend on returning to grab one for me anyway).

Thanks for the report -- I have been trying to find out where I could possibly get my hands on any ECBP -- if you have any clues -- in IL, WI, or IN -- I'd be much obliged... : )

[Spade]

I wonder how widespread these will become. Maybe the 9-10 year olds would be a reasonable substitute for the older EWSB that used to be in that range. Slightly higher price but higher proof than EWSB. 

[Whiskey Dick]

16 minutes ago, Spade said:

I wonder how widespread these will become. Maybe the 9-10 year olds would be a reasonable substitute for the older EWSB that used to be in that range. Slightly higher price but higher proof than EWSB. 

 

 

saw the 2009 batches of EWSB on shelves the other day. wow.  what is special about it anymore? a 7 year 86 proofer?

[Harry in WashDC]

2 hours ago, Whiskey Dick said:

 

 

saw the 2009 batches of EWSB on shelves the other day. wow.  what is special about it anymore? a 7 year 86 proofer?

I think I stopped with the 2006 (don't want to walk downstairs to check).  The last multi-bottle I bought was the 2005 (picked up two at once), one of which I still have.  Just got out of the habit.  But, I loved the 2003s and 2004s which are long gone.

[fanostra]

15 hours ago, Steve L said:

Thanks for the report -- I have been trying to find out where I could possibly get my hands on any ECBP -- if you have any clues -- in IL, WI, or IN -- I'd be much obliged... : )

 

I've found no steady arsenal in the area, but stumbled on one at Binny's a few months ago (if my memory serves me, the second batch of the year around when it was released). Another I got in my various travels (shelves were stocked with about a dozen in the BevMo in Vancouver, WA). I've seen single bottles at a few places around town right at release time, but priced well above MSRP - which I won't do. It seems to ebb and flow around the release dates, so I just do a fairly regular tour to see when it pops up.

 

I'll PM you if I spot on in the wild (once I get 10 posts and can actually PM that is!).

[Madhatter]

15 hours ago, Steve L said:

Thanks for the report -- I have been trying to find out where I could possibly get my hands on any ECBP -- if you have any clues -- in IL, WI, or IN -- I'd be much obliged... : )

Hi, Steve,

  I'm in an adjacent state, and have seen ECBP on the shelves pretty regularly all year.  But not now.  Finding high demand, upscale spirits is particularly difficult in December.  Lots of people, and not just bourbon knowledgable people, do large volume buying of pricy spirits for the holiday season, so stores often become understocked.  First find out who has stocked it.  Then ask them how to get a bottle when they are restocking.  Sometimes the key is asking the right question of the right person at the right time.  Persistence and patience in this hobby.  M-H

[t-ball]

Got lucky at a small store in GA yesterday and found  ECSB . They actually had 6 on the shelf.  First time trying it so I only bought one.   Cracked it last night and loved it.  Hope to be back that way soon,  so I can grab a few more.  Good stuff..

[fanostra]

29 minutes ago, Madhatter said:

 Persistence and patience in this hobby.  M-H

 

Very very true. And it eventually pays off.

 

Its crazy because while ECBP remains borderline unicorn for me, I can find Stagg Jr all day everyday around here and between $49 and $59 (yet saw it for $130 in San Diego) so never feel compelled to stock up too much. Yet in some of my travels, see shelves fully stocked with the ECBP. Really speaks to the regional market dynamics and distribution. Fortunately I travel a lot and try to keep an eye out when on the road. 

[Charlutz]

1 hour ago, t-ball said:

Got lucky at a small store in GA yesterday and found  ECSB . They actually had 6 on the shelf.  First time trying it so I only bought one.   Cracked it last night and loved it.  Hope to be back that way soon,  so I can grab a few more.  Good stuff..

 

Are you talking about the small batch or a single barrel? The small batch is the baseline bourbon. A good whiskey, but eminently available. 

[Thig]

 
Are you talking about the small batch or a single barrel? The small batch is the baseline bourbon. A good whiskey, but eminently available. 

Glad you asked that, I am sort of confused here to.

[Guest]

2 hours ago, Madhatter said:

Hi, Steve,

  I'm in an adjacent state, and have seen ECBP on the shelves pretty regularly all year.  But not now.  Finding high demand, upscale spirits is particularly difficult in December.  Lots of people, and not just bourbon knowledgable people, do large volume buying of pricy spirits for the holiday season, so stores often become understocked.  First find out who has stocked it.  Then ask them how to get a bottle when they are restocking.  Sometimes the key is asking the right question of the right person at the right time.  Persistence and patience in this hobby.  M-H

Yeah the hunt is the fun part for me.  I am sure the thrill will abate a little bit in due time, but right now, I absolutely love the feeling of walking into an as-yet-unexplored liquor store and seeing all that brown liquid stacked and racked.  I feel like my eyes are beginning to be able to take it all in in one glance -- but of course the fun part is looking even closer...

[t-ball]

11 hours ago, Charlutz said:

 

Are you talking about the small batch or a single barrel? The small batch is the baseline bourbon. A good whiskey, but eminently available. 

Small Batch.  Not readily available in the Hilton Head area.  Found this in a little store in Brooklet GA.  Have never seen this on the shelves here.  Did see the new small batch this evening .  Thought the topic of this post was EC small batch ?

Edited December 22, 2016 by t-ball

[Charlutz]

9 hours ago, t-ball said:

Small Batch.  Not readily available in the Hilton Head area.  Found this in a little store in Brooklet GA.  Have never seen this on the shelves here.  Did see the new small batch this evening .  Thought the topic of this post was EC small batch ?

 

 

Welcome to the forum! Yes, title of bread is small batch but initial question was about a single barrel store selection. Those abbreviations are usually done around here as SmB or SiB when both are available or likely to lead to confusion like four roses. With EC many of us don't see SiB options much so it's not often that we slide into the extended abbreviations for EC. 

 

Many of us are still also mourning the loss of the 12 year age statement on EC and consider rhe EC without an age statement to be a step back. Many others think EC12 was too woody and are looking forward to the age coming down. To further confuse things, EC put the age statement in the fine print on the back label for a while before dropping it altogether. Those age stated EC12 bottles are still on shelves occasionally. The EC small batch is the current version of the product and eminently available in most places, though they have changed the bottle shape from what you have there.  Sorry it's not readily available to you in Hilton Head and am glad you were able to grab one. 

 

TLDR - my question was merely one of clarification as the thread was discussing both. 

[Thig]

 

 
TLDR - my question was merely one of clarification as the thread was discussing both. 

Not only that but the thread even went to Evan Williams at one point. Sometimes hard to keep threads on point, I am as guilty as any.

[Guest]

57 minutes ago, Charlutz said:

 

Welcome to the forum! Yes, title of bread is small batch but initial question was about a single barrel store selection. Those abbreviations are usually done around here as SmB or SiB when both are available or likely to lead to confusion like four roses. With EC many of us don't see SiB options much so it's not often that we slide into the extended abbreviations for EC. 

 

Many of us are still also mourning the loss of the 12 year age statement on EC and consider rhe EC without an age statement to be a step back. Many others think EC12 was too woody and are looking forward to the age coming down. To further confuse things, EC put the age statement in the fine print on the back label for a while before dropping it altogether. Those age stated EC12 bottles are still on shelves occasionally. The EC small batch is the current version of the product and eminently available in most places, though they have changed the bottle shape from what you have there.  Sorry it's not readily available to you in Hilton Head and am glad you were able to grab one. 

 

TLDR - my question was merely one of clarification as the thread was discussing both. 

 

I am one of those buying up the EC12's when I still see them.  In recent side by sides, the bottle I have open has been tasting really good.  I haven't yet tried it against the NAS bottles.  I'm kicking myself for skipping out on a 1.75 (12 Year on back) I saw in the Dairy State a couple weeks ago though...  Probably the only bottle I haven't swooped on lately when feeling that twinge..

[t-ball]

53 minutes ago, Charlutz said:

 

Welcome to the forum! Yes, title of bread is small batch but initial question was about a single barrel store selection. Those abbreviations are usually done around here as SmB or SiB when both are available or likely to lead to confusion like four roses. With EC many of us don't see SiB options much so it's not often that we slide into the extended abbreviations for EC. 

 

Many of us are still also mourning the loss of the 12 year age statement on EC and consider rhe EC without an age statement to be a step back. Many others think EC12 was too woody and are looking forward to the age coming down. To further confuse things, EC put the age statement in the fine print on the back label for a while before dropping it altogether. Those age stated EC12 bottles are still on shelves occasionally. The EC small batch is the current version of the product and eminently available in most places, though they have changed the bottle shape from what you have there.  Sorry it's not readily available to you in Hilton Head and am glad you were able to grab one. 

 

TLDR - my question was merely one of clarification as the thread was discussing both. 

Yes, I am new to this forum.  Don't have the abbrev's down yet.  Sorry for the confusion.  We do have the new bottle of small batch now, I didn't know it was the same.  Thanks for clearing that up.  I was ready to drive back to GA and buy more.  

[Thig]

I am actually seeing more of the 1.75 EC12 available than I am the 750ml.

[Louisiana]

On December 21, 2016 at 11:14 AM, Steve L said:

Yeah the hunt is the fun part for me.  I am sure the thrill will abate a little bit in due time, but right now, I absolutely love the feeling of walking into an as-yet-unexplored liquor store and seeing all that brown liquid stacked and racked.  I feel like my eyes are beginning to be able to take it all in in one glance -- but of course the fun part is looking even closer...

 

At first it was fun for me too. I went from glaring at the bourbon section for a while in each store to being able to scan the shelves for about a minute & know what they did & didn't have. After the bunker grew & I found out what my palate desired it made the scan only take 30 seconds before jetting or purchase was made. I do none of that now & don't miss it at all. I visit only a select few stores now & keep my ear open for good private barrels. Between LE's, Private Barrels, & discontinued items a man can get more than his fill. Good Luck & hopefully "Bourbon Zen" will hit you like it did me.

 

Cheers, Jeff