Review #383 - Elijah Craig 10 Year Private Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Joe Profaci'

Wiseguy Lounge Barrel Pick Series: Part 15 of 20

Another Elijah Craig Private Barrel pick from the Wiseguy Lounge - this is the 3rd that we've reviewed, after two picks named 'Arson' and 'John Dillinger.' This selection was aged for 10 years before it was dumped and bottled, coming from barrel number 6349245.

Named 'Joe Profaci,' this bourbon from Heaven Hill is presented at barrel proof - 60.5% ABV (121 proof), in this case - and they haven't chill filtered it, like the other barrel proof Elijah Craig products. How will this selection stand up to its peers?

Elijah Craig 10 Year Private Barrel - Wiseguy Lounge Pick 'Joe Profaci'

USA - Bourbon

Price: USD 90 (2024)

Age Statement: 10 Years

Strength: 60.5% ABV

Details: Not chill filtered; barrel 6349245

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle at 70% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 10-15 minutes

Nose: Freshly baked bread - like a whole grain wheat loaf. Sweetness comes from brown sugar, and there's a decent amount of oak, which adds some dusty character, some barrel spice, some tannins even in the nose. Overall, this is a little bit dry.

Palate: The mouthfeel is thick. This tastes like a Reese's Cup! Strong chocolate and peanut butter notes, and the texture is creamy. A bit of grain arrives, along with some drying oak tannins; leather is added to the oak profile with more time. There's some dry vanilla, and at the end, hints of red wine.

Finish: Medium-long, with a bit of warmth, though the strength isn't overwhelming. Peanut butter lingers, along with some melted butter and burnt sugar flavors - plenty of baking or cookie notes. There is a bit of antique oak in this finish, and in the aftertaste, sharp blackberry jam.

Final Note: This is a very tasty example of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - a unique flavor profile with that mix of nuttiness and chocolate, which combines interestingly with the red wine and fruit notes. The strength is enough to deliver plenty of flavor density, but it never came across as overly hot; texture was great.

Value is okay, just a little better than average - these Elijah Craig Private Barrels can range widely on price depending on the age, and this example falls in the middle, maybe the low-middle of that range. For Elijah Craig lovers, this could be a good pickup.

Our Average Rating: 7.8 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 6.92

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.