As The Spirit Moves Me

  Nose: Oily smoke, raisin, leather, old oranges, Virginia pipe tobacco, soy sauce, lemon peel Palate: Oily. Wood smoke, figs, creosote, bitter orange, dark chocolate, hazelnuts Finish: Dark fruit, smoke. Rich and amazing. Lingering and long. Sweet and acidic and then dry and a little tannic. Final thoughts: This is fantastic. Rich and smoky and Oily and delicious. Enough fruit and nut and chocolate to balance it all.  Would I buy this: I would, if someone said I could have a bottle right now for $250 I'd snap it up. Would I order this in a bar: Yes, big yes. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Definitely. Verdict: Two thumbs up!

This dram was a mystery included in my 2018 Secret Santa swap. It was tasted and reviewed blind. Nose: Stewed plums, cocoa, toasted nuts, clove, Virginia pipe tobacco, honey, vanilla, raspberries. Palate: Sweet red berries, vanilla, oak, rich cocoa, figs, dark cherries, caramel, black pepper, honey. Finish: Finish is long. Dry and tannic, but with a little caramel and clove at the tail. Verdict: Definitely some heat. Like 100-110 proof, maybe? It's very rich. I think it's port finished, based on what I'm tasting. Would I buy this: Depending on price, I would. Given it's from Astor, maybe not. But it's awfully good. Would I order this in a bar: I would, definitely. Delicious dram. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Oh, yes please! Rating: ★★★★

Nose : Smoke, seaweed, caramel, iodine, oily roasted nuts, old fermenting fruit, cocoa,  taffy. Palate : Malt, smoke, toffee, dirty ash, peat, seaweed, custard, butterscotch, lemon curd. Finish : Yesterday's fire, allspice, lingering caramel, bready malt, grilled plums. Verdict : Just plain fantastic. Seriously the best Cairdeas I've had. The balance is superb, the smoke and sweetness and complexity are all so nicely put together. The proof is perfect. I have one more bottle of this, and it's staying on the shelf for a bit. Delicious. Would I buy this: Yes. Would I order this in a bar: Absolutely, yes. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Yes, yes, yes! Rating: ★★★★★

Nose: Light brown sugar, saddle leather, caramel, hu hong mao feng tea, dried orange peel. Palate: Caramel, oak, a bit of burnt cherry, black pepper. It's hot, I'm really feeling the prrof on this one. Finish: Long. Pepper, caramel, dark chocolate, burnt sugar. Verdict: This is overall quite good. It's hot, but the depth of flavor is so big. I wish it had a little less burnt and tannic flavors and a little more sweet to balance it all out, but I like this. Would I buy this: I still feel Stagg Jr. and ECBP are the best values in bourbon around. I absolutely would. Would I order this in a bar: Yes, definitely. A nice long sipper at the bar. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Absolutely! But slowly. Rating: ★★★

Nose : Cinnamon, toffee, vanilla, oak, brown sugar, cherry, toasted nuts Palate : Vanilla, hot cherries, big oak, brown sugar, baking spice, leather. Finish : Long. Rounded wood, baking spices, caramel. The heat lingers, in a good way. Verdict : This is just plain delicious. Comes together nicely, all the bourbon flavors cavorting together in a spritely jig. A good Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is always something I enjoy, and this is one of the good ones. Would I buy this: Absolutely. I still feel ECBP is one of the better values in Bourbon, and this one is quite good. Would I order this in a bar: Yes. Absolutely. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: For certain! Rating : ★★★★

Nose : Baking spices, cocoa, peaches, honeysuckle, violets, a touch of smoke. Palate : Chocolatey. Malted milk balls, caramel, apples, burnt toast with red currant jam, sage smoke. Finish : Long. Sweetness, dried red fruit, wisps of smoke, bitter chocolate. Verdict : I like this rather a lot. I know it's disappearing, and that makes me a bit sad I didn't get a bottle before it's gone. I may keep an eye out for it. Would I buy this: If the price weren't crazy, I would! Would I order this in a bar: Yes, absolutely. Would I drink this if someone gave me a glass: Yes, thank you! Rating : ★★★★