Stepping away from budget bourbons ($40 is usually my upper limit) I did something I don’t usually do. I splurged on a bottle that I have never tried. But I did it based on rave reviews from sites/blogs (Breaking Bourbon gives it 4/5 barrels) I respect. Plus, this stuff is nearly impossible to get in my neck of the woods. I’ve never seen it actually, and the store clerk said it had been several months since he had seen it. There were only 4 bottles. So, I grabbed one and it set me back $60. If there is one good thing about an ABC store being state owned, it’s that they can’t gouge you on price.
Like most other Heaven Hill products, the mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. The batch number on my bottle was C918 (C meaning the third batch, and 918 means it was bottled Sept 2018). ECBP is aged for 12 years and this particular bottle is 131 proof. Giddy-up.
Don’t go nose-diving into this one unless you want to thin out some nose hairs. That’s not a knock on this dram, but it is 131 proof, which approaches Hazmat status. That being said, the alcohol is not as prominent as one would think. The nose is sweet and oaky, full of baking spices, sweet corn, and cake frosting. I grinned. This is going to be good.
I took my first couple of sips neat and expected to be blasted by the proof.....I wasn’t. In fact, it is surprisingly (and dangerously) smooth. It tastes a lot like it smells. It’s friggin’ amazing. I appreciated the proof once it hit my stomach, as I was overcome with a cozy warmth - like a nice warm blanket by a crackling fire. Wow. All I needed was a chilly moon-lit evening and snow and the experience would have been perfect. I then added a small piece of ice (which is how I usually enjoy my high proof bourbons, as it helps to gradually peel back the layers as the ice melts). Each sip uncovered new flavors without diluting the mouthfeel of the bourbon. It’s damn near perfect.
Needless to say, this has become my #1 favorite bourbon. If the price were double, it would be worth it, but then I wouldn’t be able to share my experience with you because that would be well above my pay grade. At $60, however, this is a steel. If you find a bottle, buy it. Trust me.
Like most other Heaven Hill products, the mash bill is 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. The batch number on my bottle was C918 (C meaning the third batch, and 918 means it was bottled Sept 2018). ECBP is aged for 12 years and this particular bottle is 131 proof. Giddy-up.
Don’t go nose-diving into this one unless you want to thin out some nose hairs. That’s not a knock on this dram, but it is 131 proof, which approaches Hazmat status. That being said, the alcohol is not as prominent as one would think. The nose is sweet and oaky, full of baking spices, sweet corn, and cake frosting. I grinned. This is going to be good.
I took my first couple of sips neat and expected to be blasted by the proof.....I wasn’t. In fact, it is surprisingly (and dangerously) smooth. It tastes a lot like it smells. It’s friggin’ amazing. I appreciated the proof once it hit my stomach, as I was overcome with a cozy warmth - like a nice warm blanket by a crackling fire. Wow. All I needed was a chilly moon-lit evening and snow and the experience would have been perfect. I then added a small piece of ice (which is how I usually enjoy my high proof bourbons, as it helps to gradually peel back the layers as the ice melts). Each sip uncovered new flavors without diluting the mouthfeel of the bourbon. It’s damn near perfect.
Needless to say, this has become my #1 favorite bourbon. If the price were double, it would be worth it, but then I wouldn’t be able to share my experience with you because that would be well above my pay grade. At $60, however, this is a steel. If you find a bottle, buy it. Trust me.
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