CRESTON'S BOURBON PICK OF THE WEEK - 042 WINE & SPIRITS

Bourbon Diplomacy this week is two Elijah Craigs, both cleared with Brad at 042 Wine and Spirits before they ever hit the air. Clay sent the list. Brad’s answer was pick whichever ones you want. Seven of each on the shelf. That’s the whole allocation, so the challenge to the audience is simple: go clean them out over the next three days.

First bottle is the Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, 94 proof, single barrel. They finish it in one more barrel after the first aging, toasted, which pulls a sweeter set of notes. Creston’s read is roasted marshmallow over a campfire. Sweet, a little lower proof, built for sipping, and better once the weather finally turns. Color runs darker depending on the barrel. Tasting notes are whatever it reminds you of. If yours doesn’t match his, you’re not wrong.

Second is the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. That’s what comes out of the barrel, so the proof is higher and the color in the photo ran a little blonder, lighting or barrel, take your pick. It drops three times a year, an A, a B, and a C, roughly March, May, and September. September should be the one on the shelf, maybe an early bottle mixed in. Front label has the proof and the code. Look for A, B, or C, and a year ending in 25 or 26. Single barrel, so that barrel tastes like that barrel. Creston puts it around 80 to 90 depending on the store. Clay doesn’t quote a hard price on purpose. Five bucks either way isn’t the problem. If five bucks is the deal breaker, the bottle isn’t what you can’t afford.

Rule of thumb from the segment: want the sweeter, lower-proof sip, get the 94 toasted. Want the hotter, limited single barrel, get the barrel proof. Both are the pick.

042 Wine and Spirits, Highway 80 in Crossgates, Brandon, next to Sonny’s in the little strip center. If the names don’t stick, the display will. It’ll be marked Clay Edwards Show pick of the week. Seven and seven. Clay wants the call from Brad on Saturday or Monday that they’re gone. That’s the activation. Collectors get a bonus: if they’re sitting on barrel-proof Elijah Craig, there’s a decent chance the batch you’re hunting is already in the building.

Creston detoured into Four Roses yeast codes and the private-barrel bottle he emptied as chest medicine during a two-week cold, because the good cough syrup never got written. Alcohol’s been medicine longer than it’s been a hobby. Clay doesn’t drink enough of this stuff to play connoisseur and said so. He’ll probably grab one anyway. Hard to tell the audience to show