Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch #C923

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey lover, especially those fond of high-proof bourbon.

WORTH THE PRICE: Absolutely. If it can be found at MSRP, fantastic. But a 13-and-a-half-year-old bourbon of this quality is worth much more.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle all day, but if you can't get one, find it in a bar.

OVERALL: The nose on this goes for days ... bitter chocolate, clover honey, oak, mincemeat pie, lavender, dried roses, chamomile, leather jacket and cooked apples. It's warm from front to back to down the hatch, but it drinks nowhere near its 133 proof. It's the beast that won't bite. If you have to add ice, skip the big sphere; a regular cube will bring it to heel. It's rich and coats the palate without dominating every taste sensor in its path. It's lively with citrus, cinnamon sugar and the merest hint of cayenne (think heat without regret). Finish is easygoing and warm.