u/ElectionBig1878

Name: New Riff Bottle in Bond

Age: ~4 years<

Alc/proof: 50%/100 proof

Price: $44.99

Nose: First smell I was hit with an oak that was soon followed by cherry/cherry cola scent with caramel and vanilla undertones. It evolved into a very overwhelming butterscotch smell with the same vanilla caramel undertones

Palate: To me the pallet was very powerful, but not very stand out. I got a medium oak, with caramel and leather undertones. Other than that, I did not pick up on anything other than those. Still pleasant to sip on, but expecting more with what I was given from the nose.

Finish: Same thing as the pallet. Finish lasted a while, and kept those same oak, caramel, and leather tones.

Score: 5.5/10

After thoughts:
I scored this a 5.5/10 solely because of price and wow factor. It was a good tasting whiskey, but the wow factor just wasn’t there for me. For $44.99, I have had much better, and expected a little more than what I was given. It was good, I would and will drink again, just won’t seek it out. Heard the 8 years, and the single betters are better, but won’t know unless offered a sip.

Scoring system-

1. ⁠Terrible | Drain pour after the first sip
2. ⁠Very Bad | Trying to choke it down but possible drain pour
3. ⁠Poor | Would drink if forced to but never under my own will
4. ⁠Below Average | Not off-putting but not my cup of tea
5. ⁠Average | I'll take it
6. ⁠Good | Enjoyable sip
7. ⁠Very Good | Well above average
8. ⁠Excellent | A drink I will remember
9. ⁠Incredible | Something truly extraordinary
10. ⁠Best of the best | Peak Bourbon

Background: This is my first review! Not my first bottle of bourbon/whiskey I have bought, but I believe I have bought enough bottles, and tried enough bourbon, that i’m starting to understand the flavor profiles and what to look for in a “good whiskey”. I decided to review this bottle because this one has been very stand out for me, as far as picking up the scents and flavor profiles, and I wanted my first review to be something that wasn’t just a “it taste like bourbon” review.

Name: Elijah Craig Single Barrel Private Barrel

Age: 10 Years

Alc/proof: 47%/94 Proof

Price: 39.99

Additional information: Barrel # 7117468 Rickhouse N Floor 3

Nose: At first smell, it’s giving off a very deep rich caramel with slight hints of vanilla. On second smell, it was giving me a cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice that was then followed by the familiar deep rich caramel. As the bourbon sat out, the original slight hints of vanilla, came back out more powerfully with an added coconut scent as well.

Palate: First sip I was hit with rich oak flavor. It was soon followed by a nutty flavor with leather backdrops. On second sip, it gave me a cinnamon/allspice taste with that same nutty flavor in the background.

Finish: I’m hit with the same oak, nutty, and leather flavors on this. This one doesn’t stick around too long on the tongue. Very mild, but very standout to me.

Score: 7/10

After thoughts: I really enjoyed this! For me, what i’m looking for in a bourbon is to give you that good oak fire flavor, and this one did a great job of providing that. I really enjoyed the nutty cinnamon flavor as well. I was however surprised by what i described as the coconut smell. It seemed to really steer towards that coconut smell the more it sat out. My first sip was about 15 minutes after pour, with my second sip being about 20 minutes after pour. Definitely one of my top bourbons i have bought/tried. Like I said, this was my first review as I start to really try and get into bourbon, so i’m sure I will look back on this and have a different take on it in the future.

Scoring system-

1. ⁠Terrible | Drain pour after the first sip
2. ⁠Very Bad | Trying to choke it down but possible drain pour
3. ⁠Poor | Would drink if forced to but never under my own will
4. ⁠Below Average | Not off-putting but not my cup of tea
5. ⁠Average | I'll take it
6. ⁠Good | Enjoyable sip
7. ⁠Very Good | Well above average
8. ⁠Excellent | A drink I will remember
9. ⁠Incredible | Something truly extraordinary
10. ⁠Best of the best | Peak Bourbon