These are some quick thoughts on the wonderfully flavorful Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923.
Nose
On the first pour, the Nose of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 was a little disappointing. Typically, when I open a bottle, I expect to get that initial burst of aroma, but that did not happen. However, on subsequent pours, the nose blossomed. It almost had a slight cabernet wine feel with blackberry, dark cherry, brown sugar, and raspberry notes. The ethanol was mild. Interestingly, after I let the bourbon sit in the glass for a while, the aroma had caramel and floral nature.
Palate
BOOM!!! OK, this is more like it. The palate of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 is rich, excessively oily, and buttery with a densely sweet flavor profile: sweet black pepper and a little bit of cinnamon complement the sweet and rich heat. The palate is a little hot, but less hot than I've come to expect with the previous release of Elijah Craig Barrel proof. It's definitely sweeter than the earlier releases I remember—toasted sweet char.
Finish
The finish is shorter than expected but reveals seasoned oak and tobacco. That's all for now.