Review #26: Elijah craig 12 year old "Small Batch"

Here's another gem that I brought back from that wonderful Hawaiian holiday - such happy memories, what a great place! I can't wait to go back there at some point in the future when the little one is not so little. Getting back to the whiskey Elijah Craig 12 year old has sadly been discontinued. It has been replaced by a non age statement bottling of the same name - apparently there's a shortage of aged bourbon. 

Price: Great for what I payed, a little over 30 $US while in Hawaii. It would set me back around 70$ Au here in Melbourne but for this bottle that wouldn't be terrible relative to what I have to pay for everything else here - 5/6

Availability: I can get this down the road (for now), I haven't seen it in duty free, I have seen it in some bars too, minus a point for a sort of discontinuation  - 4/6

Marketing: The Reverend Elijah Craig according to some - well those at heaven hill where this is made - was responsible for inventing Bourbon - this apparently is a dubious claim according to everyone else. I wasn't there so I don't know! The website is very basic and inoffensive and not terribly informative - check out the link below if you're bothered. There are heaps of reviews of this whiskey on youtube but nothing from the producers that I can see - 3/6

http://www.heavenhill.com/brand/16

Label and bottle: The bottle is distinctive in shape with a nice short but wide neck with a lip on it which is nice for pouring. The label is ok fairly straight forward and informative telling me that this is 12 year old, straight bourbon bottled at 47% in small batches which uses a special strain of yeast, Cool! - 6/6


Looks: Dark brown amber, legs forming ok - 6/6

Nose: Molasses, sweet caramel, solvent note, custard, oranges, hay and nuttiness - 16/20

Taste: Big Flavors! Spicy and oaky with orange and caramel sweetness - 16/20

Mouth-feel: Pretty good maybe a little too hot -  9/10

Finish: Long with orange rind, burnt custard maybe creme brulee and spiciness - 16/20


Total score - 81/100

I'm Just finishing off this bottle now as I finish off this review. I've taken my time with both and I have to say this is a really good strong flavored bourbon and I've really enjoyed it! the higher proof really captures more of or just intensifies the flavours and over all experience.

Cheers
Kev.

Review# 25: Johnie Walker "Explorers Club Collection - The Spice Road"

Here's something one of the boys brought into the office to share around - fair play to him. This expression is part of Johnnie Walkers "Explorers Club Collection" which got them into a spot of trouble with a group called "The Explorers Club" who have been promoting scientific exploration and field sciences since 1904 and who actually sound really quite cool! Check out their website via the link:

https://explorers.org/about/about_the_club

So Diageo who own Johnnie Walker and The Explorers club went to court over the unauthorised use of their name on Diageo products and they beat Diageo! However Diageo being the worlds largest drinks company would not give in that easily and they persisted and reached a settlement with The Explorers Club to become a global sponsor of that organisation.

Price: Well I haven't been traveling lately but I can get this stuff online for $140 Au. I don't really think it's amazing value for money, it's not bad stuff but not worth that much in my estimation. I think their trading on a label - 4/6

Packaging and label: Blended whiskey,aged in old oak casks, 40 % ABV, no mention of added colorant or chill filtration, or indeed any indication of what's gone into the blend. The bottle is of the typical Johnie Walker style with corners and angled label oh and no age statement either - 3/6

Marketing: What a marketing coup the court case was, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat and doing what they should have done in the first place (had they been decent minded) by sponsoring a very noble organisation. Johnie walkers own website is a bit crap to be honest, it laughably provides a recipe for "Scotch on the rocks" with an option to print the recipe just in case you get confused and aren't sure where to put the ice! this seriously exists see the link below, the points are mostly for making me laugh! - 4/6

https://www.johnniewalker.com/en-kr/our-whisky/explorers-club-collection/the-spice-road/

Availability: Travel retail only supposedly, but this is also available online and I haven't noticed it anywhere else, some people value exclusivity in such matters, I'm not one of them - 2/6 

Appearance: Evenly spaced legs, color is amber gold with a little green hue - 6/6

Nose: I can smell grains a little sweetness, I get something citric nothing too strong, figs, leather a little tobacco and oak - 15/20

Taste on entry: Light and sweet on entry not much happening here for me, smoke coming in a little stronger as I drink a little more - 12/20

Body/ mouthfeel: Feels ok not too thin, smooth which it's supposed to be - 7/10

Finish: I think this is the best feature of this whiskey. I can get some spices I'm thinking of Chinese 5 spice, not picking up any smoke oh wait there it is fairly light I also get tobacco and licorice in there too. The finish is lasting and changing and interesting the smoke fades and leaves you with a nice sweet fruity candy taste - 17/20

Total Score: 70/100

This really just reminds me of a nicer red label which I drink from time to time on flights or at Christmas parties over ice, it's nice and easy drinking but has a good finish - I suppose it needs to justify the price tag somewhere!

Happy Exploring!

Kev!