Everyone Is Calling Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A124 Bad... Is It?

Elijah craig barrel proof bourbon is a release people look forward to every year! Ecbp a124 should you buy or should you pass on it?
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[@JBond-fm1wb]

I think if you really, consistently drink ECBP (I do, pretty much exclusively) you’ll find that while all batches have some differences, yes, they all keep pretty close to the profile. Basically, if ECBP is your jam, you’ll like it. If it’s not, just stick to what batches the influencers tell you is good and just pick up those batches. There is not one batch that I can’t sit down and enjoy, personally.

[@justinpetrello]

Too many people expect a C923 every batch. I've never had a batch I didn't like. Just some more than others 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@demoner1]

I paid 65 for mine. At that price i was overall happy with it.

[@jkk4657]

I paid $60. And it's pretty good

[@G1ft3dConfus1on]

The big problem with ECBPs now is that the bar has been set at C923, when in reality I think A124 is right around a normal ECBP.

[@powertothesheeple5422]

The bar HAS been set. I have 2 bottles of B523 that I thought were amazing at $75. Not paying $15 more a bottle for younger lower proof juice from the same distiller.

[@G1ft3dConfus1on]

@@powertothesheeple5422 think I had B523 and thought it was alright, closest I’ve had to C923 was B519 but C923 still won pretty easily.

[@SuspenseGames]

I honestly thought C923 was a huge let down. I heard everyone gushing over it for so long that I expected something out of this world. I did a blind of C921, C922 and C923 and C921 beat out C923 and that wasn't even supposed to be a great year.

[@fredlabosch5164]

You mean the bar had been set with C919.

[@systemtrend3194]

@@SuspenseGamesdamn that’s pretty wild

[@nickp5511]

Nice review! I enjoy all of the ECBP’s and Larceny BP’s some just more than others! My store owner friend lets me have his cost for the ECBP for 55.00 and the Larceny BP for 44.00 bucks! The ones I really enjoy I’ll get backups! Cheers!

[@ejbsee6081]

I have owned close to 2 gallons Wirth of ECBPs since 2019, and I enjoyed A123 from lsst year enough to have a back up bottle. My 1st one is almost gone. I fund it to be dark chocolate and cinnamon with barrel proof punch

[@thejakeball]

A124 is my first ECBP, and it's been one of my favorite bottles. So much so that I picked up a second bottle. It doesn't hurt that I got it for state minimum at my local Meijer in South Central MI.

[@mattyaces9333]

Once ECBP pricing jumped above 84.99 here in Jersey I stopped buying em....sucks cuz I love them but the only way the prices are gonna come back down is if we stop paying these crazy prices for it!!

[@radfield6089]

truth

[@Lithanify]

Yeah, watching folks talk about A124 like it's still $65 is irritating. This is markedly more expensive stuff than KC12 and KC selects... and far worse. It's almost the same price as Jack 12... and when it's good... it's as hard to find (C923 was flat out not available by me). I don't even need a review to know when it is bad, because A124 has been on the shelves for months near me. Hell it's still available online (PA so literally one source online). If B524 is good like C923... I might have a day to buy it. Hell it doesn't even have to be good. If it's 13 yrs +... It'll sell out in a day I bet... FOMO will sell it out in my state before reviews hit. B523 was in between C923 and A124... It sold out in a few weeks near me and some stragglers were available if I drove 1+ hrs. Problem is A124 is so bad... B524 might not even get stocked here. I'll need to find the odd store that managed to sell out and just hope they stock the B524 on release instead of other stores shuffling A124 stock to them.

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

It was so tough for me to finally get a c923 and it was the first time I have ever paid over MSRP for something, I'm happy to now pass on anything from them that does not measure up to that.

[@richmcelmeel5430]

Minnick loved the Larceny....this ECBP is solid...not a drain poor...not one to get a backup for

[@jbmcb]

$100 for barrel proof in Michigan is ludicrous. State minimum is $75, and the three places I frequent price it as such.

[@kylehaun8192]

I think fhe jack daniels barrel proofs i have had from this yeaf have blown away the A124 ecbp and larceny bp. That said the C923 ecbp was maybe the greatest whiskey i ever had

[@markcalhoun8219]

Finally tracked down a JD BP after drinking 4 bottles of JD bonded and bonded rye and WOW is it so much better than the one I had 3 years ago. Had a JBSBBP store pick 3 years ago and I swear I was ready to never buy JD again... just tasted like dirt. The current stuff is rock solid though.

[@moguy1973]

I get buttered popcorn on the finish of mine. It's good though. I like it better than a single barrel store pick I have.

[@tigga1231]

Not paying 100 for "background whiskey", i know that much lol

[@brettheiner7125]

I had a sample this week, was underwhelmed, but I’ve been a gigantic fan of C923.

[@ItsShatter]

I did a blind of A124 with the 2023 batches and found A124 to be better than B523 and worse than A123. C923 had all of them beat by a large margin.

[@johng6350]

I saw this on the shelf a few weeks ago, a real Catch-22 moment. Where I'm at, we generally don't see limited releases so early. No one I knew had a review on it yet, but I'd generally heard good things about ECBP. Fortunately, I guess, I only paid $65 for it.

[@applecrow8]

The ECBP A124 was very earthy to me, so when a buddy really liked it I gifted him the bottle. I agree with the others here that the Larceny A124 this year was really good. IDK, I love Knob Creek x but this did not remind me of it.

[@mikepatterson2133]

Background whiskey. I like that description.

[@scottlange2766]

I paid $ 69.00 for mine. The neck pour was very Bookers nutty. I agree it is not as complex as other batches. I seldom like the A batch and this is my favorite one so far ( I have several on the shelf collecting dust ). I always like the B and usually like the C

[@SSR_Virgo_Tiger]

A124 had a weird grassy note on the finish for the 1st third of the bottle. As it gets lower I'm falling in love with it, really.

[@lukedempsey8579]

A like to compare it to eating some dusty sweet corn straight from the stalk.

[@Sunshine11229]

The Cell is so good. you guys should do a reaction re-watch while reviewing bourbons.

[@epegr1075]

ECBP is $75 in SC / GA for reference.

[@brettheiner7125]

I’ve heard A124 open up nicely. I was not a fan at first crack and haven’t been back to it. Need to revisit soon and see if it got happier with some time in the corner.

[@thebigcor]

I bought 3 of these, they were phenomenal.

[@CharleyCarey]

I got a bottle over the weekend and I thought everything was kinda muted. I found it for MSRP though so I'm not too unhappy.

[@toddstallings3939]

Thank you guys… After hearing so many bad things I was almost hesitant to buy . I’m pretty new to this game and I have yet to find an ECBP at the store. So I did it and I was so glad. If this is a bad one, then I will be ridiculously happy when I find a really great one.

[@EricPerry-hf4bo]

I paid 89.99 for my ECBP A124 and I thought it was really good, but I didn’t get to try the C923 either so I can’t compare!

[@troylee340]

A123 was a hit for me! Haven't tried 124, but 100 bucks, it needs to be as good or better than A123.

[@joshuaernst5135]

Always looking for the c923!

[@Lithanify]

Finally found a bar pouring it... $19/oz and worth it. Tried A124 and b523 in bar pours (at overpriced bars for about the same price). One reminded me of OGD114... which I consider a mixer. The other was passable, but certainly not special. Put it this way... I found a cheap bar... checked their Batch on the ECBP (it was A124)... ordered a EH Tay Bar Proof... Enjoyed it... got the check and they had only charged me for a ECBP (About half the price of the EHT)... and immediately knew the Bar manager did me a favor (we'd spent 30 minutes talking whiskey earlier), because that was NOT A124 I had just drank.

[@markcalhoun8219]

I was looking for A124 and... stumbled upon a case of A123 that just got shelved after the B523 sold out at my local store. So I just bought it. I'll have to wait for a 24 bottle to come around.

[@chrisbfd]

You should reference your review of the A123. At the time it had no marker on the nose and got a B plus/A minus. I'm surprised to see you not rating it very well today.

[@BiffStrongo]

Thanks for the review, Junkies. Only one I found was 110. Imma pass.

[@normlang1994]

I enjoy all the ECBPs...and I'm sipping a 1.5 oz pour of A124 watching this video, and enjoying it very much. NC retail price, $79.99

[@FakingANerve]

Same. I've never had an ECBP that I haven't really enjoyed. The moaning about the age statement seems... Dumb to me. I might take more time to pick a better word for it if I thought it was worth it, but I don't. Haha.

[@downhome.bourbon]

I was very happy with mine at $75. I definitely agree with the fatty, savory notes.

[@jeffreyspencer4005]

$65.99 for me and at that price I'm fine with it...at $100 I'd pass.

[@Mr10usdad]

I have not had this one yet but 923 was like fire water compared to my Stagg.

[@CyrixSG]

Local here in KY, I found mine on the shelf for $80.

[@kyleslusher4642]

I’ve been able to find ECBP one time and it was C922. Haven’t had a release since and from mumblins im glad I haven’t purchased every batch.

[@iansammons2730]

C922 is the batch I own. Tried b523 and a124 in bars and both are distinctly worse than c922. Tried c923 in a bar and it smokes all of them. And based on what Sean is saying about a123... sounds like c923 is the only batch of the past 4 that isn't well below par for ecbp of past...(I dont believe c922 was a particularly above avg batch). So I am still hoping they are deliberately dropping occasional great batches and then just half assing the rest... dunno how that'll work as a business model, but that's what it looks like.

[@christopherm.2413]

C921 for me. The allocation system in Virginia sucks.

[@karl0318]

ECBP A124 is not the best I've tried from EC in a couple years but is still worth a try if you can get it at MSRP (I paid about $77 before tax - San Antonio, TX). It has a woody note that I am not happy with (not a deal-breaker). It also has a bit of an earthy note that I would expect from a barrel proof rye but not from a bourbon. Overall, I am not unhappy with it but not overly impressed either. I am looking forward to C524.

[@deezzznutz1995]

I didn't think ECBP A124 was bad, but I didn't run out and buy another bottle right away like I did with the Larceny A124. That stuff is as smooth as Eagle Rare, but 124 proof.

[@seang.9660]

The pepper-“ROME”-i quote killed me 😂🤣☠️💀

[@amvilla12]

I got mine for $55, definitely have no regrets at that price

[@BretSimmons]

It's very unique. I enjoyed it

[@peterb.3278]

Enjoyed my A-124 -good - not great but in my area see it for $69.99 -$74.99

[@jimidrammer4187]

My theory: they are backing off the ECBP age so they can push the 12+ towards some 15-18 cask strength special releases later.

[@Lithanify]

I picked up a HH Select Series at the distillery when I visited KY... And I heard people in line (locals) talking about how common the SS have become for those (twice weekly) drops... SS is 7 + 12 yr that's finished in XYZ barrels for another 4+ years... I think what's happening is they're taking more off profile barrels that used to be allowed to age more and then get put in some of the better/older tasting (think C923) ECBP's... and instead finishing them, watering them down more to make up the loss somewhat (for the 100 proof version SS), and selling them for $150-250 instead of for $85 (used to be much less). They might be TRYING to get that younger, spicier note as the "taste" of ECBP... maybe to distinguish it more from their older unicorns? I sure hope not; but wouldn't surprise me.

[@danrudnick5252]

Have the barrel proof store picks surpassed the normal ECBP's in value? Cuz they're usually cheaper.

[@kokoaDarkPenguin88]

$65 VERY EARTHY bottle. The fact they said slightly earthy instead of buried in the cemetery and they pulled fruits tell me all I need to know 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@no834]

Elijah Craig small batch / four Roses small batch / Angels Envy my personal 3 favorite

[@jasono.1629]

Great review guys. A nutty briney background whiskey, lol love your flavor notes 😂. A121 was when the quality and flavor dropped permanently on these. All ECBP is good. It always will be good. But great? . . . then u gotta go back in time to 2020 and prior batches. I have 15 bottles bunkered from 2017 to 2020, I haven’t bought one since C920. I just try them from friends to remind myself to never buy them again 😂.

[@user-kh1ye2pt2h]

You are crazy. A121 is delicious.

[@genghis_quan]

The larceny a124 was great this year tho!

[@stevestowell-virtue3781]

@genghis_quan I agree. 124 proof and sips like 110 maybe. My bottle is getting low!

[@jonathanwilliams1974]

Yup. got it for $69 at TW...a total steal at that price.

[@stevestowell-virtue3781]

@@jonathanwilliams1974 I think I gave $74 for my bottle. Wish I had bought 2 or 3!

[@genghis_quan]

@@stevestowell-virtue3781 Same! I've been at a half bottle for over a month now. I like it so much I don't want it to go away lol. The next release should be soonish!

[@stevestowell-virtue3781]

@@genghis_quan I will watch for the next release!

[@deanarmstrong8185]

These have been sitting at the local Kroger at State minimum $79 for a month. No one’s biting.

[@FakingANerve]

Sounds like you have a damn fine opportunity on your hands. 😉

[@sorryhungry729]

My A124 has a weird strong grassy note. I love ECBP but I think they put the wrong juice in on accident for this one.

[@alexbolton1794]

I got it at Costco for sub-$70 and it was definitely worth that at least. The first one I ever saw in Minnesota. For that price it was a good buy but if you told me ECBP was worth seeking out I'd look at you weird.

[@scoobtoober2975]

Thanks for highlighting exactly what i'll never buy.

[@trentonfettig7265]

I didn't mind the A124. It's $79.99 here in MN and there is actually still some B523 floating around as well. Woodford Reserve Masters at 121.2 is $99 here also, bourbon may be going down a bit finally.

[@dshindo1837]

Where is Woodford for 99 , I’m seeing 159 in Wi.

[@trentonfettig7265]

South Lyndale Liquors in Mpls had/has quite a few cases.@@dshindo1837

[@marcsingleton9430]

How does it compare to A123?

[@joshuaernst5135]

The cell is great

[@ejay6760]

Got my a124 for $56 at Costco it’s solid for that price.

[@whiskeytiers]

Not bad, just not up to par of an ECBP I dont think

[@alexanderv.5019]

How do you like the larceny A124?

[@jodyhateley6781]

I found a bottle of A122 in Amarillo last week for $69. Forgot how good that one was.

[@ThreeBZ]

I still have a couple drinks left in mine ..great bottle

[@systemtrend3194]

A120 was the last amazing A batch and my favorite batch ever (even over C919 and C923) but I also liked A123.

[@jasono.1629]

Thanks for this. I too liked A120 so I will hunt for A123 now if I can find one.

[@systemtrend3194]

@@jasono.1629 Sadly A123 doesn't come close to A120. C923 is better than it as well, but it's still good.

[@jasono.1629]

@@systemtrend3194 thanks for the intel

[@user-dv1vb4bn6g]

I really loved A120, C919, A119, C918. C923 was behind all of those for me

[@jasono.1629]

@@user-dv1vb4bn6g good to know. Surprisingly sometimes I still run into those older batches for sale. I always ask to check the very last bottle in a stack of ECBP’s cause they always put the recent ones first.

[@brandonamacker888]

The meaty/fatty flavor I got reminded me ever so slightly like a Slim Jim.

[@ironmantran]

((My bad. . . ECBP 2013 or Stagg 2003 would suffice )). ECBP is released perhaps but once / year outside of US...

[@BourBen]

Notes of tube steak?

[@0529mpb]

The mid-palate just has some off oak notes. Maybe it will mellow with air, maybe it won't. I had a pour and I am not buying.

[@markwood2452]

This will be blasphemous, but I had a chance to try Heaven Hill 18yr and ECBP A124 at a tasting event. At the time, I much preferred A124👀

[@RestoreAmericanLiberty]

No. You're all wrong. The ONLY prominent note is raw sweet corn. Period. Imagine eating raw corn on the cob.

[@B-Rye-N]

I think the bottle is a middle of the road ECBP. Its good but not great. Got mine for $80.

[@shawnrobinson4173]

It tasted like the silk on sweet corn.

[@joeyoliver504]

Still just missing the spotify podcasts.... :(

[@bababoo96]

Pepperoni is now the greatest tasting note of all time

[@Tread-719]

You got me with salami!....I'm hungry...lol

[@BaneOfXistence4]

8:48 We're C-Batch guys, of course we think A-Batch is meh.

[@tropicalpop3593]

Mine was very ethanoly at the end with mine. Not a big fan

[@tdietlein]

Midland Meijer had like 6 of these Saturday

[@scottelder7648]

I heard they were $75 as well!

[@user-th9vq1mi9s]

I get hints of liquor

[@masattac]

A124 was not great, not terrible. Really enjoying B524 so far though.

[@travisrobeson306]

If I see these at 70, it’s a buy if I’m out.

[@FriarPop]

A124 is being called bad, because its bad, just like EC18. Rather have an 8-10yr EC.

[@michaelbaker3572]

This is the only release ever, that I straight up didn't like. Traded away an open (mostly full) and a full one for like $100

[@xxMalakeixx]

When you say really old legacy whiskey does that differ from sourced/new/craft distilleries? Everyone at 10y+ age statement is expensive. Legacy tends to be the only option that is reasonable

[@red5standingby419]

Legacy differs because they've been around for 100 years and have huge rick houses and huge amount of barrels that have been aging. So they can charge less because they have a much larger and steadier source for higher aged products than new/craft does.

[@xxMalakeixx]

@@red5standingby419 sorry yes I know that's why I asked the question. The way he said it like a high age statement legacy brand is gonna be pricey just struck me as weird since they are usually the cheapest

[@abdriver5563]

About 80 bucks in P.A.

[@yanksrule311]

I paid $75 for A124 and have no regrets. Still a very good deal for above average juice.

[@dshindo1837]

Paid $74 for A124 and can still snag a B523 for $69 . I might just grab it .

[@Abby_Normal_1969]

I got mine for $65. Washington's fuck-you-tax added 23% I thought it was fairly good. I tend to be biased towards high proof Heaven Hill, though. I liked Larceny A124 better.

[@rjutter]

Midland Meijer was flooded with this 2 weeks ago @ $64…$100 = bourbon flunkies!.!!!

[@BourbonJunkies]

You feel the need to be the "I FOUND IT FOR CHEAPER IM SPECIAL" guy. Don't be, nobody likes that guy. Also interestingly enough minimum shelf pricing in MI is $69.99. This bottle can be easily found for 80-100. We paid $100 because we got it a couple months ago from Kentucky and paid shipping. Review just came out now.

[@RobbbbC]

Drums and dram dude is a drama queen

[@DrumsAndDrams]

Tell me about it

[@eliwilson8242]

@@DrumsAndDrams more laser code drama soon ?👀😂

[@DrumsAndDrams]

@@eliwilson8242 sounds like we need it 😂

[@robzilla69]

Understatement!

[@themcmc]

100% . Can't stand him. And using such a similar name as Mash and Drum

[@andrewgano7688]

Dan sounds so wasted in this video 😂

[@scottsmith1455]

Is it worth $100??

[@BigBadJerryRogers]

A lot of the same people who would pony up $100 for this are probably the same people who are mad about the price of groceries and gas.

[@hypnocracy6102]

$90 background whisky...pass

[@whatsthepoint170]

The bourbon community has got to have more respect for itself. Paying $70+ for a “not bad” bottle of whiskey??

[@syenet02]

5:15 Spill #3

[@Lithanify]

You're not exaggerating. He was making faces and saying it was everything short of disgusting.

[@jthenry8]

Double Gold at 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

[@treyp8795]

Woodford batch proof, younger and more expensive. Old forester drops a younger product, not barrel proof and 50% more expensive. Stagg is younger and around the same price but you can’t find it. Compared to other legacy distilleries, it’s still a great value. Just bad value batch for this product line. Heaven Hill spoiled the market with this for years. Simple as chiefs!

[@iansammons2730]

I'd rather drink a kc single barrel (60-70$) or rare breed (50$) over a124 or b523 ($90). I'm not seeing the value.

[@WoodrowWoods2007]

You need to double blind it against other +/-10 proof points. Seeing the bottle and thinking about C923 only taints your opinion.

[@jeremymcbride]

ECBPA124 was fresh cut grass through and through.

[@RestoreAmericanLiberty]

Try raw sweet corn.

[@josephshultz6726]

A good amount of whiskey tasting seems to be subjective squabbling over nuances, I tried the new riff, seems ok, a little flat. Wild Turkey....ass. Who knows, Elijah Craig, I;ll know when I get around to it.

[@cartervelli]

They always breathing so hard. Are they ok?

[@jacksmith2315]

A124 is horrible. Its like straight pepper. I dont care about age, i just want good tasting whiskey. Most of their 9yr picks are really good. My favorite EC bottle is a 9yr pick. This batch is just pepper and shit. Ive had KC 15 batch 1 and 2 and those are way better than this crap, and im not a big for of KC bourbons, but their limited cask strength ryes were really good.