{"id":303,"date":"2024-05-06T16:33:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-06T21:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/?p=303"},"modified":"2024-05-06T23:59:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T04:59:00","slug":"elijah-craig-the-deatsville-strikes-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/06\/elijah-craig-the-deatsville-strikes-back\/","title":{"rendered":"Elijah Craig: The Deatsville Strikes Back"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

May 6, 2024 \u2013 Little Rock, AR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poster
Image \u00a9 Dustin Howell – December 19 2023 \u2013 Used for editorial purposes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When the Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) announced its third Elijah Craig Private Barrel, there was already a buzz in the bourbon community. The release \u2014 titled \u201cThe Deatsville Strikes Back\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 carried both weight and nostalgia. For longtime members, it wasn\u2019t just another pick; it was a triumphant return to the hallowed Deatsville warehouses of Heaven Hill<\/strong>, a location that has achieved near-mythic status among Elijah Craig fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDeatsville Returns\u201d \u2014 The Blind Pick That Started It All<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The story of this release began months earlier. On December 3, 2023<\/strong>, BCA administrator Dustin Howell<\/strong> shared the group\u2019s tasting experience on Facebook:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cFor those who watched the live tasting\u2026 you already know! For those who didn\u2019t\u2026 Deatsville returns! We tasted seven samples today blind for our next pick. We didn\u2019t know anything about them and labels were covered. No proofs\u2026 no ages\u2026 no warehouses! We picked what we truly liked without knowing any specifics other than it was Elijah Craig, and out of seven samples we were shocked to discover that what we decided on was the sample from the only barrel out of the group that came out of Deatsville.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For Howell and the team, the revelation was serendipitous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t even know a Deatsville barrel was included in the group,\u201d he continued. \u201cOur first EC pick we did was a Deatsville barrel and to this day that is one of our best picks. We are really excited about this barrel and can\u2019t wait for y\u2019all to get these bottles. As always, our goal is to put great whiskey in your glass and I think you\u2019ll agree that we\u2019ve done just that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The bourbon world\u2019s fascination with Deatsville isn\u2019t unfounded. The site\u2019s storied rickhouses \u2014 perched on Kentucky hillsides with open airflow \u2014 are said to impart distinctive depth, richness, and balance to Heaven Hill\u2019s barrels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Official \u201cIn Post\u201d \u2014 May 6, 2024<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When club founder Gary Penna<\/strong> made the official launch post on May 6, 2024, titled \u201cThis is the IN Post for Elijah Craig, The Deatsville Strikes Back,\u201d<\/em> the community response was immediate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cOK here we go,\u201d Penna wrote. \u201cThis is the \u2018IN\u2019 post for the Elijah Craig, The Deatsville Strikes Back!!! $79.99 before taxes\u2026 I highly suggest that you grab this bottle within the first 24 hours. I\u2019m pretty sure that this one will tie or beat the first Deatsville!!!! Once they are gone, they will be gone!!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The post detailed the logistics of the release \u2014 216 bottles<\/strong>, with each member limited to one bottle for the first 24 hours to ensure fair access. Penna also announced a special raffle coordinated by Justin from Ace Liquor<\/strong>, offering buyers the chance to purchase rare bottles at MSRP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cJustin from Ace Liquor is going to hold a raffle for anyone that purchases one of these bottles,\u201d Penna wrote. \u201cOne raffle ticket per person\u2026 It\u2019s A LOT!!! Thank you very much Justin for taking care of Team BCA!!!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The structure mirrored previous successful BCA releases, underscoring the club\u2019s blend of fairness, excitement, and community spirit that has defined its growing legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Victory Worth Celebrating<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just two months later, The Deatsville Strikes Back<\/em> would become one of BCA\u2019s most celebrated releases. In July 2024<\/strong>, Gary Penna reflected on the club\u2019s journey and their recent honors at the ASCOT Awards<\/strong>, where The Deatsville Strikes Back<\/em> earned Double Platinum<\/strong> recognition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cI would\u2019ve never imagined six years ago that we\u2019d be here today with over 30 barrel picks and two of them award winners, and one that made the Final Four for overall champion!! \ud83e\udd2f\ud83e\udd2f\ud83e\udd2f,\u201d Penna wrote. \u201cWe are small, but we are strong, strong with passionate whiskey nerds\u2014ok, aficionados \ud83d\ude02\u2014who make this fun and rewarding! Great job BCA for being the best club in the country (Now it is official!!)\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He went on to thank the team that helped make BCA what it is today \u2014 from the original admins Tyler Shinabery<\/strong>, Aaron Parsley<\/strong>, Tre\u2019 Santifer<\/strong>, and Alan Myers<\/strong>, to current leaders Dustin Howell<\/strong>, Justin Mills<\/strong>, Jeremiah Cotner<\/strong>, David Chaloupka<\/strong>, and Josh McKibben<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Penna also expressed gratitude to the store partners who supported the group: Justin Pierce<\/strong>, Parwinder \u201cHappy\u201d Singh<\/strong>, and Sam Rad<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cWithout their support we would never have grown the portfolio we currently have,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are on pick #31 right now (that to be released soon!!)\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

More Than a Pick \u2014 A Legacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Deatsville Strikes Back\u201d wasn\u2019t just a clever name \u2014 it symbolized the return of something special. What began as a blind tasting evolved into an award-winning barrel that united Arkansas whiskey enthusiasts and cemented BCA\u2019s reputation nationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For fans who managed to secure a bottle, the label itself \u2014 referencing the Star Wars sequel of the same name \u2014 became a collectible emblem of BCA\u2019s growing influence in the bourbon world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From blind faith<\/strong> to barrel-proof success<\/strong>, the Bourbon Club of Arkansas proved once again that great whiskey isn\u2019t just found \u2014 it\u2019s earned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

\ud83e\udd43 Bottle Details<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Name:<\/strong> Elijah Craig \u2013 The Deatsville Strikes Back<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Release Date:<\/strong> May 6, 2024<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Price:<\/strong> $79.99 before tax<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Producer:<\/strong> Heaven Hill Distillery<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Selected By:<\/strong> Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Store Partner:<\/strong> Ace Liquor<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Bottles Produced:<\/strong> 216<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Recognition:<\/strong> Double Platinum \u2013 2024 ASCOT Awards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    About the Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Founded in 2019 by Gary Penna<\/strong>, the Bourbon Club of Arkansas<\/strong> has grown into one of the nation\u2019s most respected whiskey clubs. With more than 30 unique barrel picks and a dedication to blind tasting and community engagement, BCA continues to set a high bar for local and regional whiskey collaborations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    May 6, 2024 \u2013 Little Rock, AR When the Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) announced its third Elijah Craig Private Barrel, there was already a buzz in the bourbon community. 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