Elijah Craig Small Batch?

[tanstaafl2]

6 hours ago, Thig said:

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

 

I was too. For awhile anyway. That is starting to dry up as well.

 

Haven't noticed the new bottle style in town yet although I would think it must be here. The distributor couldn't have been that backlogged! Then again I haven't really looked.

[SlowMash]

I did a blinded SbS of the EC12 and a new bottle that I got the first time I ever saw it on a shelf, and thought they were fairly comparable. It led me to wonder what the differential in lag time between labels changing and juice changing might be for these big producers? I assume they have to plan way ahead for new labels, and so the whiskey in the initial runs of new NAS bottles may very well be the same as was age stated. Anyone know how long that lag might be for some place like heaven hill? Could it be that we won't notice really major changes in flavor profile until say a year or more out from label changes? I have no idea. Maybe I'll have to get a VOB or OWA out of the basement and do a SbS with a current NAS bottle. It'd be more interesting if I had an NAS from within the first year of the label change to add to the comparison though.


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[MarkM]

I just picked up a 9 year and 11 year private selection single barrel last week. The 9 year is incredibly fruity with quite a bit less barrel character, different than any Elijah Craig that I have had. Just goes to show the difference in age (although they were aged on different floors and warehouses).


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[Paddy]

The NAS EC I've been working on seems a bit lighter and fruity also, but in a good way.  I need to do a SBS with an age stated bottle, but with God only knows how many others I already have open at the present........ 

[fanostra]

Cracked open Binnys barrel #5264264 (8 year) last night and quite enjoyed it. I can take or leave EC12, as I find it a bit oakier than I tend to prefer. So did a SBS with these two. The Binnys barrel was far less oaky than the EC12, a little thinner and perhaps a bit fruity. Very nice nose as well. I have not had the general issue NAS yet, so perhaps that is similar. But I intend on heading back to Binnys to get a few more bottles. 

 

I would think that fans of EC12 might be a bit disappointed if expecting something with that similar woodiness. But if open for something a bit different, very enjoyable on its own merits. For me I prefer over the 12.

[meadeweber]

4 hours ago, fanostra said:

Cracked open Binnys barrel #5264264 (8 year) last night and quite enjoyed it. I can take or leave EC12, as I find it a bit oakier than I tend to prefer. So did a SBS with these two. The Binnys barrel was far less oaky than the EC12, a little thinner and perhaps a bit fruity. Very nice nose as well. I have not had the general issue NAS yet, so perhaps that is similar. But I intend on heading back to Binnys to get a few more bottles. 

 

I would think that fans of EC12 might be a bit disappointed if expecting something with that similar woodiness. But if open for something a bit different, very enjoyable on its own merits. For me I prefer over the 12.

8 years old?  Wow!  Think of how much more money HH can make selling 8 yr. old bourbon for the same price that it sold 12 yr. old bourbon last year.  

 

On another thread, I said that ECBP may lose its age statement but now I'm not so sure (I do think the price will rise if it keeps it's age statement however).  If the small batch is now going to be around 8 years old, that leaves a lot more older stock.  Maybe we will see more EC18 and 23 as well.

[flahute]

35 minutes ago, meadeweber said:

8 years old?  Wow!  Think of how much more money HH can make selling 8 yr. old bourbon for the same price that it sold 12 yr. old bourbon last year.  

 

On another thread, I said that ECBP may lose its age statement but now I'm not so sure (I do think the price will rise if it keeps it's age statement however).  If the small batch is now going to be around 8 years old, that leaves a lot more older stock.  Maybe we will see more EC18 and 23 as well.

fanostra was referring to a single barrel selection.

Standard Small Batch will still be a blend of 8 to 12 year barrels.

[meadeweber]

45 minutes ago, flahute said:

fanostra was referring to a single barrel selection.

Standard Small Batch will still be a blend of 8 to 12 year barrels.

Steve, I know he was referring to a single barrel selection but I made the assumption that if they are offering up 8 yr old barrels for private select, the small batch has a lot more barrels around 8 years in it than 12 year barrels.  Do you agree?

[flahute]

Just now, meadeweber said:

Steve, I know he was referring to a single barrel selection but I made the assumption that if they are offering up 8 yr old barrels for private select, the small batch has a lot more barrels around 8 years in it than 12 year barrels.  Do you agree?

I don't agree, at least not yet. I don't think they will try to shift the profile that quickly. They need to bring their customers along slowly. In a couple years though? It wouldn't surprise me.

[fanostra]

13 minutes ago, flahute said:

I don't agree, at least not yet. I don't think they will try to shift the profile that quickly. They need to bring their customers along slowly. In a couple years though? It wouldn't surprise me.

 

This would make sense to me. The single barrel selection seemed to be an entirely different beast to me than the 12 year. If HH wants to maintain their EC12 drinkers, it would only be rational to try to emulate the profile of the 12 as much as possible in the near term - but certainly over time could/might/probably gradually shift it. I've read reports of the NAS tasting very different than the 12, as well as reports stating its fairly similar, though I haven't had it myself.

 

Now I really want to try (and find first) Binny's 10 year single barrel selection!