Elijah Craig Single Barrel Review
In-Depth Review
According to bourbon legend, Reverend Elijah Craig is responsible for creating America’s first bourbon. The legend says that back in 1789 Elijah Craig created bourbon by charring barrels in order to improve the taste of whiskey – leading to the distinct caramel vanilla flavors that have become analogous with bourbon whiskey. And while many scholars may dispute the story, the fact remains, the name Elijah Craig has a strong place in both bourbon history and the current bourbon landscape.
Currently produced by Heaven Hill distillery, Elijah Craig is one of the most recognizable and popular whiskey brands in the world. For years, Elijah Craig was known in its 94 proof small batch form, with variations including rye and single barrels only more recently coming to market. And while its barrel proof limited editions have a cult like following, these 94 proof single barrels of their small batch line remain an interesting and affordable foray into variations on a classic bourbon profile. So when I got the chance to pick up this single barrel pick from a local liquor store for under $30, I couldn’t resist. Will this live up to the famous Elijah Craig name or does this specific barrel go a bit off the narrative?
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 47%
Cask: Virgin oak
MSRP: $30
Distillery Name: Heaven Hill
Review Date: 6/21/22
Color: Classic bourbon caramel
Nose: The nose starts off bright, with lots of fruit, brown sugar, and toasted wood. There’s also a big note of sour cherry and bright vanilla cream. French vanilla – similar to that Trader Joes bourbon vanilla extract – with a touch of icing sugar and cream cheese frosting come through as well. The ethanol is well restrained and comes off only as a very gentle burn. This single barrel is everything a classic bourbon nose should with an emphasis on fruitiness.
Palate: The palate is gentle and oaky with more wood than I expected. The ethanol sits on the front of the tongue but quickly disappears as you move into the finish. This makes it feels bright on the front palate while leaving more oak and nuts on the back palate. The nuttiness comes alive the longer you sip, with notes of peanuts and almonds coming through. It isn’t a mouth coating experience, and instead feels a bit watered down compared to what the nose promised.
Finish: Short to medium length finish with notes of apples and lemon zest mixed with peanut dust and oak. There’s a whiff of hazelnut as well, but it’s a fleeting note that is overwhelmed by the fruitier characteristics.
Final Thoughts: While this Elijah Craig single barrel is hardly groundbreaking bourbon, it does deliver that classic bourbon experience with some added interest from the sour cherry and lemon zest vibes it gives off. Would I take it over the Kirkland Bottled-in-Bond? Not sure I would. But for a bottom to mid shelf bourbon, it’s respectable and enjoyable. I’d feel bad mixing a store pick into a cocktail, but could see this doing well in your favorite old fashioned. The nose is its standout feature, with the palate leaving a watered down note (even at 94 proof) with the flavors able to disappear quickly into the finish. But in today’s world of bourbon, a store pick from a blue chip distillery for under $30 is a screaming deal – even if it won’t rock your world.
Score: 88
