Elijah Craig 12yr...I tried, I really tried

[brian12069]

I have never been a fan of Elijah Craig 12 yr 94 proof. I have had a bottle sitting in my bar for a few years. Some of you may even remember a couple of years ago I did a post on how I brought a bottle back to the liquor store because it had such a strange taste I thought something was wrong with it.

Well, it was a cold winter night in upstate NY. The wife and I were home for the night and I was in the mood to try something different. I reached way in the back of my bourbon shelf and grabbed the EC 12 yr. I told the wifey that I just had to give it another try, she knows it's one of the few that I don't like.

I poured about 2 oz, took a nice sip and said, " aghhhh thats just strange" The only other description that came out of my mouth was "weird".

I don't know what it is with this stuff, I almost WANT to enjoy it but I always get this OVERPOWERING odd taste. The worst is if I inhale while I am sipping, then it's just awful...I tried, I really tried.

So then I poured some Ridgemont Reserve 1792 and life was good...very good.

[BourbonJoe]

Brian,

There are others on this forum that would agree with you. I have had bottles of EC-12 that had a metallic taste and were awful. I also have had bottles which were quite good. I think there is a lot of variation in this bourbon.

Joe

[brian12069]

Brian,

There are others on this forum that would agree with you. I have had bottles of EC-12 that had a metallic taste and were awful. I also have had bottles which were quite good. I think there is a lot of variation in this bourbon.

Joe

I don't even know if Metallic was the flavor that I got. You say you have had bottles that were good but this is probably the 4th bottle I have tried. None were good.

[Brennan77]

I think the odd flavor you are getting at is the not so subtle hint of terpentine. Seriously, I'm with you on this. I really tried to enjoy EC, both the 12 and 18. I just can't do it. Heck, I even tried it again yesterday at work (I work in a wine and spirits store, so we have lots of open bottles for tasting).

My boss thinks I just don't like rye, and says this is why I don't like Bulleit or EC. I disagreed, so I started with a taste of Sazerac Rye. I liked it pretty well. An enjoyable pour. Then I moved on to the EC and sure enough, there's that funky flavor again. What the heck is that?

I'm relatively new to bourbon, so I know my tastes will develop. I'm just not sure I'll ever develop a taste for EC.

[brian12069]

I think the odd flavor you are getting at is the not so subtle hint of terpentine. Seriously, I'm with you on this. I really tried to enjoy EC, both the 12 and 18. I just can't do it. Heck, I even tried it again yesterday at work (I work in a wine and spirits store, so we have lots of open bottles for tasting).

My boss thinks I just don't like rye, and says this is why I don't like Bulleit or EC. I disagreed, so I started with a taste of Sazerac Rye. I liked it pretty well. An enjoyable pour. Then I moved on to the EC and sure enough, there's that funky flavor again. What the heck is that?

I'm relatively new to bourbon, so I know my tastes will develop. I'm just not sure I'll ever develop a taste for EC.

I wouldn't compare this stuff to Bulleit myself. Bulleit isn't the best, but it is at the least, enjoyable.

[Brennan77]

I wouldn't compare this stuff to Bulleit myself. Bulleit isn't the best, but it is at the least, enjoyable.

\

I'm not comparing them, really. I'm just saying that those are two I do not enjoy. Bulleit, to me, falls flat in taste and has a red pepper burn that makes it unenjoyable. Perhaps I'll revisit it this evening. My manager's theory was that the underlying theme of bourbons that I do not like is rye. I disagreed with him, saying that there's more to my not liking EC than rye.

[brian12069]

Ya...I don't think it's the rye...unless it was dipped in weed killer or something...

[TNbourbon]

My tie-breaker bottle is currently on the shelf, though I don't know when I'll open it. I just finished one bottled in 1997 that was very good. I almost never bought it, however, because my original, newer example was so bad I donated all but the first couple of tastes (which rang of the metal finish Joe alludes to) to a Gazebo function. (As I recall, it mostly just sat there, too, but that might just be because of all the other 'lovelies' on the table.)

Anyway, if this next bottle (2001) is a good one, I'll buy it again. If not, it's sayonara EC12, for me.

[SBOmarc]

Had that same taste from the 18 year old but my 2 bottles of the EC 12 have been fine by me.

[T47]

I had gone through 3 bottles of EC 12 and enjoyed them all, with a 4th waiting to be opened. I also have a EC 18 waiting to be opened. Taste buds are a fickle thing?

[ratcheer]

A few years ago, someone (I think it was Jeff) labeled that flavor as "acetone" and got a lot of agreement.

Personally, I do think I taste the flavor everyone complains about, but it just doesn't bother me. I enjoy EC12, very much.

Tim

[AVB]

I've probably had half a dozen and liked them all. If it wasn't so cheap here I'd ask you to send your dregs to me.

[1holegrouper]

I have definately tasted that metallic taste with EC12. It is a good value for mixing if you do that sort of thing.

[Mad Mac]

EC12 isn't my favorite either, but I prefer it immeasurably over EC18...

[brian12069]

I haven't had the 18 in a long while. Do I dare???

[Ambernecter]

I haven't had the 18 in a long while. Do I dare???

Reading the above comments Brian I would say don't even go there...

Go for something you'll know you will get on with. EC 12 or 18 is not "bad" Whiskey but it's not for everyone, (certainly not for me!) and if I were to be so bold, I would say not for you!

[brian12069]

This is why I can't figure out why people don't like Jack Daniel's around here!?!?!?!?! It's better than this stuff!!!

[Edward_call_me_Ed]

I really like EC 12. If you go by the number of bottles I have emptied since I got into bourbon a little more than a year ago, it is one of my favorites. I do think the first bottles were better and I have slowed down. I think that one of the things I liked about the earlier bottles was that the 'strange' taste was more prominent than in later bottles, not less. The bottle I have open now is good. I might have some after work tonight.

Ed

[KYBlue]

I'm not a fan of EC 12 or EC18.....

Nor am I wild about Eagle Rare 10. I have a bottle of ER17... I hope I like it better.

[fogfrog]

Well, I had a bottle of EC 12 and EWSB and drank them both without a problem. I do think the EWSB was a bit better than the EC though.

[jburlowski]

EC 12 used to be one of my fvorites but I have given up on it. The taste seems inconsisitent from bottle to bottle. Not bad, necessarily, but inconsistent in the sense that some bottles seem very good while others(to me at least) to be one-dimensional and uninteresting.