elijah craig ( bourbon )
today, elijah craig bourbons are produced as part of the bardstown bourbon society. they are named for the reputed
father of bourbon
reverend elijah craig, who is (sometimes) credited with first using charred oak barrels to give bourbon whiskey its distinctive flavor and color. elijah craig small batch bourbon was originally the younger of the elijah craig labels produced by heaven hill distilleries as the elijah craig 12yr bourbon .
heaven hill claims that elijah craig was the first small - batch bourbon ever created .
there’s obviously a breaking point there. ultimately, i’d rather see it continue on as elijah craig than something lesser with the elijah craig label .
small batch: knob creek, like elijah craig, is a small batch bourbon. fit: excellent
availability. you could find it anywhere. nearly any liquor store with a bourbon shelf carries elijah craig .
proof: at 90 proof, this is pretty comparable to elijah craig. fit: good
as an elijah craig fanatic, the nas sucks! !! i’d pay $ 15 max .
elijah craig nas is a very good bourbon, and worthy of your hard - earned cash. not as good as elijah craig 12 year old, perhaps, but in the same ballpark. for the long term elijah craig 12 consumer, from one devotee to another i say let it go and welcome to a brave new world. if you’ve never tried elijah craig, you will find this a very pleasant journey .
proof: 100 proof. not a harsh bourbon by any means, but it will drink hotter than elijah craig. fit: fair
buy elijah craig, 12 - year - old, kentucky straight bourbon whiskey (47 %) 20158 - berry bros. & rudd
how do you tell what batch it is? just got a bottle of elijah craig barrel proof .
never tried the barrel proof versions of elijah craig…. was never able to get my paws on one, ever……blake, would you be willing to or have you reviewed the elijah craig 18 year old ?
starting in late january, heaven hill began shipping elijah craig small batch, the new nas version. this bourbon is described as an 8 to 12 year old bourbon, and will replace the 12 year old original. technically, it is now elijah craig 8 year old .
elijah craig small batch is the signature bourbon bearing the name of rev. elijah craig, a bourbon pioneer who is credited as the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels. long before the term small batch even existed, our master distillers were hand - selecting just the right number of barrels to make elijah craig. this expertise and attention to detail give elijah craig small batch the right balance of rich flavor and full body for a warm spice and subtle smoke flavor .
aged to perfection and bottled at a higher strength of 47% elijah craig is rich oaky and round .
price: around $ 25, this is actually cheaper than elijah craig in most markets. fit: excellent
at $ 200 a bottle, elijah craig 23 is well into the super - premium bourbon category. you’re not paying for a phenomenal taste with this edition. instead, you’re paying for the privilege to try elijah craig aged 23 years. unlike the
elijah craig 23 year continues heaven hill’s series of aging their elijah craig bourbon a year longer. starting in 2012 with elijah craig 20 year and continuing every year thereafter, heaven hill has continued to age their signature elijah craig 18 year bourbon one more year - giving you a unique chance to sample each year, compare years, and really see how the bourbon tastes with the additional aging. this, in my opinion, has been a really fun series to try out, since it gives you the opportunity to see what the ideal aging time is for elijah craig versus a single year release like so many other ultra - aged bourbons (
just scored a bottle of elijah craig barrel proof # 10 in illinois. huge elijah fan cant wait to try it. unfortunately had to pay $ 74. 00
this is very cool. elijah craig was my 5th great grandfather' s brother. my 5th great grandfather was benjamin craig. we will check it out. : )
elijah craig small batch 12 year is a good example of a kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, bottled at 94 proof. i wouldn’t get too hung up on elijah being the inventor of bourbon, even though the marketing people at heaven hill love to beat that drum. speaking of marketing, elijah craig is a true small batch, and they have used that terminology to describe craig bourbon since 1986, long before the rest of the industry picked it up .
price. at $ 30, elijah craig was within the grasp of most consumers. it didn’t break the bank .
elijah craig was a baptist preacher who created the process for “true kentucky bourbon. ” he’s credited with the process of putting his distillate into charred oak barrels .
the appeal of elijah craig barrel proof is easy to see: barrel proof bourbons are increasingly in demand, 12 year barrel proof bourbons are few and far between, and none besides elijah craig can be found for $ 50. still, i don’t recommend it unless you are certain you like barrel proof bourbons because there isn’t much subtle or gentle about elijah craig barrel proof .
availability: not as common as elijah craig, but not terribly difficult to find in more decent liquor stores. fit: good
blanton' s: slightly more mellow than elijah craig, with caramel flavor and an almost perfumey aroma. about $ 42 .
according to the label on the back of the bottle, elijah craig small batch bourbon “is considered one of the world’s greatest bourbons. ” those are big words for any bourbon to live up to. and yet, the elijah craig 12 year old came very close to doing so in the minds of many of its long term fans .
elijah craig 12 year old is five star bourbon. the nose is deep oak, pipe tobacco, and caramel with hint of vanilla. the entry is warm with palate of oak, spice, caramel with finish of deep oak gingerbread, and vanilla. , there is no bitterness. an outstanding whisky. elijah craig nas is same five star quality and has same nose and palate, and finish as elijah craig 12 year old. highly recommended .
the brand is named for reverend elijah craig who is said to have stumbled upon the idea of aging bourbon in charred oak when he stored his alcohol in fire - damaged barrels .
elijah craig bourbon whiskey is produced by the heaven hill distillery company which is located in bardstown, kentucky. the heaven hill bernheim distillery where the spirit is produced is located in louisville, kentucky. i am reviewing the 12 year old version of elijah craig straight bourbon which sadly is slowly disappearing from the marketplace. the whiskey is being replaced by a non age stated bourbon whisky, elijah craig small batch bourbon. my understanding is that the new version will be blended from straight whiskies which have been aged 8 to 12 years. the change is being made because the elijah craig brand has become so popular that maintaining a 12 - year - old age statements and keeping production up with the demand became two incongruent goals .
i normally drink single malt scotch but tried a taste of elijah craig at my local store. promptly took home a bottle. yummy !
elijah craig 18 - year - old: extremely smooth, with undertones of burnt sugar; mellow but intense aroma. about $ 32 .
got a 12 year old. stated on front label... says it' s distilled and bottled by elijah craig distillery in kentucky
elijah craig is an excellent bourbon! like a previous reviewer stated, it incites a definite wow moment. craig is sweet, smokey, leathery, and jam packed with charred oak flavours. the nose includes fruits, vanilla and memories of a leather saddle shop. i have yet to find a bourbon in my city in canada that will come close to elijah craig. it will be a staple in my collection for years to come .
elijah craig small batch is a true premium bourbon. bottled exclusively from a dumping of 70 barrels or less, the brand carries the name of the rev. elijah craig, the man who discovered the method of making true kentucky bourbon. golden amber colour; sweet oak, vanilla and caramel aromas and flavours with a hint of peach followed by a long, spicy finish .
proof: a stout 100 proof, this isn’t a mouth burner, but it’s going to pack more punch than elijah craig. fit: good
how about comparing the elijah craig 12yo and the new stuff and see how they compare. you might not need to switch to anything else .
father time finally caught up with the ultra aged elijah craig series, as this 23 year old version spent one too many years in the barrel .
i am a bourbon fan, and i try a good many. tonight, i am enjoying my first bottle of elijah craig, and i must say, i think this is a winner !
heaven hill distillery is producing some of the finest of america’s whiskey. elijah craig 12 is the best bourbon around for under 30 bucks, and in my opinion elijah craig barrel proof was the best new whiskey last year. their pikesville rye is a top 3 contender for best rye on the market. what more can a distillery that owns the 2nd largest stash of aging bourbon in the world do ?
the no age statement (nas) version was ostensibly introduced because heaven hill has experienced double - digit growth, putting pressure on the stocks of older barrels. it would appear that the elijah craig brand is somewhat a victim of its own success, so the question becomes whether the elijah craig nas bourbon can continue this level of achievement and consumer satisfaction .
the bourbon the elijah craig nas looks almost exactly like the 12 year bourbon in the bottle. of course, it’s the same sturdy bottle with the same labeling color and print and the same over - sized cork. the bourbon is a dark brown with a reddish tint. it is a beautiful looking bourbon. the legs are long and thin .
just how radically bourbon has evolved came clear to me when i opened an old kentucky favorite, along with the new elijah craig single - barrel bourbon. both heaven hill and the 18 - year - old elijah craig are produced by the same company based in bardstown (stephen foster' s old
home
) whose distillery i toured way back in 1977. but they could not be more different .
excellent! noobs should stick with makers mark, but a bourbon vet will enjoy this bourbon neat .
the price elijah craig small batch is priced at approximately $ 30 a bottle, plus or minus with local variations. only time will tell if this nas version will fill out the slot elijah craig 12 occupied as the best of the low cost bourbons on the market, but i believe it just might pull it off .
really nice, strong and goes well with beef steak, i like the smell and the color of elijah craig whiskey, smooth and heart warming, fine bottle .
this is a great bourbon for the price, but there are so many fantastic and better bourbons on the market that i just couldn' t rate this as 4 stars. the elijah craig 18yr is definitely better, but this is a decent aged bourbon for the money .
i’m disappointed, but i’m not angry. i love (d) elijah craig for what it was, but if you strip that out, it’s just another bourbon…ad there are lots of good bourbons for prices in that range .
with the sad, sad news that the age statement had been removed from elijah craig, that left a lot of bourbon drinkers at a loss. why? because elijah craig is, or had been, their go - to everyday bourbon. and why wouldn’t it be? it’s affordable (around $ 30), was generously aged and age stated at 12 years, and was a great sip that could be found in virtually every liquor store in america .
however, more limited offerings, especially older ones, is where the shortage is most evident. only a few years ago i could walk into a virginia state liquor store and grab an elijah craig 18 - year single barrel bourbon for around $ 45. that release has since been discontinued and instead 20 - to 23 - year - old versions of elijah craig were released that can run over $ 200, if you can find them. (elijah craig 18 is supposed to be introduced soon, but with an expected price many times what it was only a few years ago. )
named after the father of bourbon, reverend elijah craig this limited release small batch, twelve year old bourbon is bottled at barrel proof and without chill filtering, preserving the natural flavors produced during the aging process. at full barrel proof, you can enjoy the bourbon much the same way our master distiller does when he samples straight from the barrel .
picked up an elijah craig barrel proof # 9 in northern kentucky. couldn’t get a bt antique collection and was offered this. support your local merchant. i’m thankful. cheers .
i love elijah craig, but dislike buffalo trace because it is a completely different taste profile. similar batch size or age are meaningless to compare since the taste is so different .
making my way through the 2015 advent calendar (what may have become a new tradition in our household) and both the wife and i found the elijah craig one of the few so far which warrant further exploration. the wife isn' t a fan of whiskey, but agreed to share the adventure of sampling with me (this year, at least) and has declared elijah craig 12 a winner (though there is still roughly half the samples left). nice nose, fruity tones and a smooth tasty finish make the elijah craig a standout .
age. elijah craig was 12 years old. this is really about the maximum age most rye - based bourbons should be bottled at. even the elijah craig single barrel variants get progressively worse with each older release (one of the 18 year bottlings was excellent). so some solid age is a good start, but we’re not looking for something beyond 12 years .
a start would to bring back the much loved elijah craig 18 year old. actually, they already did this for 2015, but it’s unclear if that the expression is back annually .
the bourbon we’re sometimes led to believe that elijah craig accidentally discovered the charred oak barrel aging process when he refused to buy new barrels after his were charred in an accidental fire. we have this process to thank for the reddish - orange appearance and the slightly smoky aroma, as well as the ever present nose of sweet vanilla and caramel, both of which are amply present in craig’s namesake bourbon .
other - about as complete a bourbon aroma as you are likely to find... one of the most beautiful noses found anywhere in the world today. a bourbon to keep in the mouth forever. jim murray, whisky bible elijah craig 12 - year - old is a true small batch premium bourbon, and had that distinction before the term even existed. bottled exclusively from a dumping of 70 barrels or less, the brand carries the name of the rev. elijah craig, the man who discovered the method of making true kentucky bourbon when he stored his wares in barrels that had been charred in a fire. elijah craig is critically acclaimed. it was awarded a double gold medal at the san francisco world spirits competition. it has twice been awarded “best of the best” from whisky magazine .
wow first time a beautiful bourbon. having it at the novotel hotel manhattan. both place and bourbon awesome a must try
another beginner bourbon. straightforward palette with little to get excited about. great for introducing newcomers to the world of bourbon .
i' m a whiskey drinker but a co - worker recommended i try bourbon. we spent 30 minutes in the liquor store & i purchased elijah craig small batch 12. my first sip was extremely smooth & i think i found my new drink .
named after the rev. elijah craig 12 - year - old this is a true small batch premium bourbon, and had the distinction before the term even existed. bottled exclusively from a dumping of hand selected casks, the brand carries the name of the rev .
the good folks at heaven hill distilleries have been releasing consistently good bourbon forever, and their elijah craig line is among their best. elijah craig barrel proof is the beast of the bunch, with the latest batch tipping the scales at over 134 proof, aged for 12 years, straight from the barrel, non - chill filtered, and uncut. it sounds intimidating, and it is, but is also one of the best barrel proof bourbons on the market today .
we haven’t tasted the non - age stated version of elijah craig yet, but it may be the closest in flavor profile to the old option. but this post is really for those with a deep feeling of betrayal or disappointment in the changes to their brand and want to make a change. plus, we’re not trying to replicate the flavor of elijah craig, per say, just help these folks find a new everyday bourbon. so we won’t include it on the list .
i really enjoyed this bourbon although it is not my favorite. i like a few bourbons better including knob creek and evan williams 10 year old single barrel. it' s all a matter of personal taste. elijah craig is high up on my list of the best .
heaven hill combines that heritage of craftsmanship, exemplified by the personal touch of the master distiller, with modern technology and a commitment to stability and sustained growth worldwide. heaven hill' s diversified portfolio includes brands such as the full line of the christian brothers brandies, evan williams kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and elijah craig 12 year old bourbon whiskey .
you' ve heard of evan, elijah, and larceny. now discover our entire american whiskey portfolio .
this is a small batch bourbon blended from 100 or less hand selected barrels from the heaven hill distillery warehouses, although some reports say that the batch size has risen to 200. like the original, elijah craig small batch is bottled at 94 proof (47% abv) .
although only a 12 - year bourbon, elijah craig barrel proof is another example of the booming market for high - end limited release bourbon. a few years ago heaven hill began releasing barrel proof versions of the 12 - year bourbon and now a small offering hits stores about three times a year. the suggested price is $ 50 but, depending on the store, you may see it selling for twice that much .
if i have any elijah craig or blanton' s left next spring, though, i' ll have it locked away and just let the maker' s mark fight it out with the mint in the juleps .
availability: pretty available everywhere, and likely a good reason elijah craig is removing their age statement. these come from the same mash as elijah craig, and are around 9 - 10 years old (depending on the vintage. this line seems to have grown quite a bit in popularity recently, and that likely means a good number of barrels in that 9 year range have been diverted from further aging to make evan williams single barrel. fit: excellent
as for pairings, rich, robust, earthy cigars are needed to stand up to the strong flavors of elijah craig barrel proof. i’d particularly recommend the tatuaje havana verocu, roma craft cromagnon, or drew estate liga privada .
elijah craig was named for a reverend who lived in virginia. he kept a warehouse where he stored barrels and one day experienced a devastating fire. he used the charred casks regardless and found they imparted a lovely character. this is a great 12 year old small batch bourbon, named in his honour .
ok lads … time to man - up … elijah craig 12 yo barrel proof clocks in at more than 67% abv of liquid testosterone dragster fuel! heaven hill distillers is unique. they are one of the oldest and largest bourbon distillers in the world, they have the second largest standing inventory of aging bourbon, and they have grow to become the seventh largest supplier of spirits in the us. but … they are still family owned. in fact, they are the only family - owned production house left in kentucky. god bless the shapira family! the list of spirit brands owned and controlled by heaven hill is way too long to list here, but their three most famous are even williams bourbon, elijah craig bourbon, and their namesake heaven hill whiskies. if you ask people in central kentucky, they will tell you that good ‘ol elijah craig invented bourbon. if you ask anywhere else … well, you will get a different answer. no need to pop their bubble here. besides, you aren’t here to learn about elijah craig the man, you want to know about elijah craig the whiskey, right? ok lads … time to man - up. the “normal” elijah craig bourbon is a great, full flavored bourbon bottled at a proper and manly 47% abv. but this is “barrel proof” strength … the full octane liquid that the whiskey master sips right out of the barrel when he is doing his tastings (the best job ever !). that means that this nitro - burning dragster clocks in at more than 67% abv. all the strength, all the flavor, no regrets. smartass corner the humongous heaven hill warehouses look like like they are being swallowed by “the thing. ” but the creeping black mildew climbing the sides of the buildings is “baudoinia compniacensis”—an alcohol - loving fungus common to distilleries, liquor warehouses, and bakeries that feeds on “the angels share” evaporating from the casks .
correct! went yesterday and bought 3 bottles of the 12 year age statement bottles to add to the 3 i have in my cabinet. this morning made my daily rounds at some stores and the shelves are now stocked with the new labeled bottles…. . in which no mention of 12 year old anything is on the description of the botttle contents! heaven hill took off all references to the 12 year age statement. i guess the new elijah craig 12 year old will now taste like a blended hodgepodge of swill…lol. . it’s official…. . ”elijah craig 12 year old age statement bottles” are now in the hands of flippants! has anyone on here tasted the new bottles of elijah craig without the age statement ?
hit the jackpot. my county liquor store was closed for 3 days because of the snow storm. they re - opened today and i managed to snag four 1. 75 liter bottles of elijah craig with the 12 yr stamped in red .
craig started his commercial distilling around 1789, but heaven hill didn’t start their work until around 1934, after prohibition ended. however, they have continued to garner praise and admiration for their excellent whiskey, building on the legacy of elijah’s name .
heaven hill distillery has taken it upon themselves to produce this elijah craig 12 year bourbon as a way to honor the namesake of the infamous preacher. this bourbon has been heralded as one of the top value bourbons available in the market. personally, i’ve had the 18 year variety a few years ago. a little early on in my bourbon drinking life, but i enjoyed it. i doubt i was able to fully appreciate it the way that i think i would nowadays .
the main trait this bourbon has going for it is its age. the above average length this bourbon spent in the barrel probably turned what would have been a forgettable bourbon into something more noteworthy. again, this bourbon isn’t complex, but it seems to have a perfect amount of oak / char flavor to it .
this is a really nice bourbon, well worth paying that bit more for .
sure! wild turkey is putting out a lot of great bourbon these days .
i generally prefer scotch but this bourbon is very smooth with a lot of flavor .
beaver - flavored bourbon is now a thing. here’s what you need to know .
the coloring of this elijah craig 12 year bourbon is a classic looking dark amber color with a shimmer of gold. when i hold it up in my glencairn glass i can barely see through it. it has a nice solid color and the legs on it are forever long. really coating the inner walls of the glass. needless to say i’m ready to tear into this bourbon and see what it tastes like! who’s with me ?
updated: for 2017, elijah craig barrel proof has received a makeover. the release now comes in a new bottle and label. good new is ecbp is still 12 - years - old. with the new bottle, heaven hill has standardized the releases with batch numbers
elijah craig certainly know how to create superb small - batch, cask strength kentucky bourbon! this barrel proof edition was bottled at 62. 1% abv (making it one of the lighter expressions from this range, believe it or not), so you' ll probably need to add a drop of water if you want to fully enjoy this beauty .
but in the last few years, the original american whiskey has literally come of age. the potent old mainstays with backwoodsy names along the lines of wild turkey and rebel yell can still be found, but these days they are being increasingly crowded by new variations designed to elevate bourbon to connoisseur status, with lineage - evoking labels like elijah craig and kentucky spirit .
love it! used to drink beam green label but this bourbon is a favorite now .
i have plenty of bourbons i’m happy to drink - including evan williams single barrel. take away what makes it unique, and elijah craig has a really hard time competing with other labels - even in house, that are tasty and boast the same credentials (or lack thereof) .
from a business standpoint, i think they’re making a mistake. is the extra 4% alcohol a reason to buy what will, at best, be an 8 year old elijah craig for $ 30 when $ 22 gets you an 8 or even 9 year evan williams single barrel ?
i tried to read the back label on the new packaging, but they had placed their store identification label right in the middle of it. the elijah craig website shows the new name and packaging and makes no age statement in their description. hope they continue using the same juice .
released the first elijah craig barrel proof (ecbp) outside of the heaven hill gift shop. it quickly became a favorite among bourbonr’s. ecbp is a 12 - year - old uncut, unfiltered bourbon which heaven hill releases once a quarter. aside from the excellent flavor and high proof what makes ecbp even better is its retail price. ecbp retails between is between $ 50 - $ 75. with such a low price it’s hard to find a better bourbon for the money .
another option for those in the kentucky area and not totally soured on heaven hill is the heaven hill 6 year bottled in bond. it’s under $ 15, and the flavor profile is very close to the old elijah craig, even managing to be extremely barrel - forward in terms of taste .
i wouldn’t go quite so far as to call elijah craig the original small batch, as its producers do, since maker’s mark was doing small batch production decades before. but the bourbon is certainly part of the early, 1980s - era class of premium bourbons that started american whiskey as we know it today. in it’s own way “ec12” is a classic, and it tastes it too .
in a mixing glass add cherry, orange and bitters. gently muddle as to break up the fruit. next add simple syrup, elijah craig small batch and ice. stir until well chilled. fill a rocks glass with fresh ice, strain cocktail over ice and garnish with a slice of orange .
i loved the elijah craig 12 year old. it was a great whiskey. very sadly it is no longer made. heavenly hill now sells it as
small batch
only. it is no longer a 12 year old whiskey and the taste suffers. it is now comparable with jim beam .
founded in 1935 after the repeal of prohibition, heaven hill is the nation’s largest independent, family - owned producer and marketer of distilled spirits products. based in bardstown, kentucky, it is the second largest holder of bourbon whiskey in the world. the roots of history and the art of making america’s true native spirit run deep at heaven hill. in the open - rick warehouses where the world’s finest bourbon ages in charred white oak, you can almost feel the presence of legends like william heavenhill, the company’s namesake, and kentucky’s bourbon pioneers evan williams and the rev. elijah craig .
take your time with this bourbon. take my advice and always drink a second glass. open your mouth and rest your lips on the glass and breathe in the fragrance of this one through your nose. take a sip and press it onto your tounge several times, then swallow it. you can taste vanilla a lot, the cask of oak, spices, leather, a tiny floral note. this bourbon is very creamy and has a burn that does not burn. bourbon drinkers will know what i mean about the burn. very good for a bourbon under $ 30. 00. excellent buy for a 12 year old. try elijah craig 12, you won' t be sorry .
overall, for $ 24, it’s going to be very difficult to beat this bourbon. it is incredibly complex and the depth of flavors in the price range are incomparable to others in the same price range. i can’t wait to pair this elijah craig 12 year bourbon with a cigar and see what sort of flavor combinations it creates. one thing i know for sure, is this will quickly become a staple in my liquor cabinet, and i think it should become one of yours as well .
elijah craig 12 year old is a wonderful bourbon. i found the rush of dry spices and the building oak and cedar flavours quite yummy. the spirit shows evidence not only of age but also the character, balance, and smoothness which comes with that age. hopefully the 12 year old expression make a return to the main roster in the near future. until then i will hoard what i have .
heaven hill is, to put it bluntly, one step above paint thinner: watery but pungent, with more fire in your throat than caramel on your tongue. elijah craig — named for the preacher who produced the very first bourbon, in 1789 — is buttery but edgy, with burnt - sugar undertones and an aroma that is anything but nose - singeing. i would serve it in place of cognac any time. elijah craig is the best of the single - barrel bourbons i' ve tasted. not surprisingly, the distiller contends it' s also the most aged of any on the market, at 18 years in charred oak (or, as the marketers put it ,
72 seasons
) .
an even and balanced bourbon that while not complex, still provides enough traits to keep it interesting .
heaven hill is, to put it bluntly, one step above paint thinner: watery but pungent, with more fire in your throat than caramel on your tongue. elijah craig - - named for the preacher who produced the very first bourbon, in 1789 - - is buttery but edgy, with burnt - sugar undertones and an aroma that is anything but nose - singeing. i would serve it in place of cognac any time. elijah craig is the best of the single - barrel bourbons i' ve tasted. not surprisingly, the distiller contends it' s also the most aged of any on the market, at 18 years in charred oak (or, as the marketers put it ,
72 seasons
) .
just saw the recently discontinued “elijah craig 12 year old” on bottle - spot. com……. the larger 1. 75l bottle is going for $ 90. 00, and the smaller 750ml bottle is going for $ 40. 00…. . hahahahahaaaaa! !! ! this shit is outta control! !! !! !
heaven hill distilleries, who create both elijah craig and evan williams, are the holders of the world’s second largest stash of aging bourbon found anywhere on the planet. they also are the largest family - owned and - operated producer of spirits in america. the master distillers carry the right name and the right pedigree. they are sixth and seventh generation beam’s with all the experience and knowledge that family name brings to the still .
for elijah craig, the 12 - year - old small batch for all intents and purposes seems to be their flagship bourbon. at least it’s their first one, in small batches that carry an age statement. i, like many love seeing an age statement. i like to kind of know what i’m paying for. with bourbon, it’s not so serious i don’t think, and for me, one of the things about this one is that i tend to like a bourbon a little younger than how i like my scotch whiskies. i love a scotch in that 15 - year range, my bourbons, hovering around 8 to 10 .
when i tasted this bourbon at heaven hill i wrote in my tasting notes
taste like grass
. this bourbon just isn' t good. i' d much rather have old granddad or eagle rare .
availability: not as easy to find as others, it’s still not a rare bourbon. fit: good
harlan wheatley stated in “how the best is done…kentucky bourbon trail” that buffalo trace was 40 barrels or less .
good but not great. for a few dollars more, treat yourself to the 18 year old bourbon .
named after the reverend elijah craig who is thought to be the first person to use charred barrels to age his whiskey - which is now part of the law for bourbon and leads to the rich sweet style of whiskey that we know and love today. this is fantastic kentucky straight bourbon made by heaven hill distillers a company founded by the shapira brothers at the end of prohibition when members of the beam family approached them with a proposal to build a new whiskey distillery. to this day heaven hill is owned and operated by the shapira family with the beams (parker & craig beam) in charge of whiskey making. including their flagship brands evan williams bourbon and rittenhouse rye heaven hill make a wider range of american whiskey styles than any other major producer and also make more ‘bottled in bond’ whiskies than any producer .
on the palate of this bourbon i instantly picked up on that overarching note of chocolate that i got on the nose. it hit me right in the middle of tongue and just lingered there. following the chocolate i picked up on some slight butterscotch notes. alongside that a nice dose of vanilla spice that rounded everything out. some maple syrup peeked its head out occasionally next to some char notes from the oak. those were the most dominant flavors, but this elijah craig 12 year bourbon continued to flow in and out of flavors. it was very complex, i wasn’t expecting this level of depth coming from a bourbon at this price point .
regular elijah craig drinkers will notice it drinks a little hotter than the 12, but this is not a “hot” whiskey experience. the flavors are nicely balanced with honey, caramel, and an oaky - vanilla. it has a very pleasant sweetness to it that sets you up for a very nice slightly spicy finish that lingers on .
one of my favorite things about this elijah craig 12 year bourbon is the packaging. in fact that’s what caught my eye about it initially. i looked at it and saw this incredibly oversized cork stopper in the neck of the bottle and i was taken aback. i was like why on god’s green earth would you put such a large stopper in there. then i started looking closer. the top of the stopper had a very detailed signature of mr. craig protruding from the rest of the stopper. the wooden circle which contains the signature acts as a handle for removing the gargantuan stopper separating me from my whiskey .
i drink my bourbon chilled with ice, three or four shakes only, then quickly strained and transferred to a chilled glass. this is a great bourbon this way, smooth and wonderful with delicious lasting notes of yummy !
small batch. batched bourbons are considerably more consistent than single barrel bourbons. an everyday bourbon should be consistent .
age: not stated. this is a young bourbon, likely in the 4 year range. fit: poor
i do, however, see elijah craig 23 year having it’s time and place. i could see it being used in limited occasions. like, the entire time i was drinking it, i couldn' t stop thinking about sipping it in front of a fire with a fine cigar to complement it. that being said, given the price, i' d recommend trying it at the bar vs. sinking money into a full bottle. hopefully heaven hill realizes the limit of aging time on their bourbon and scales back production to bourbon aged 22 yrs or less .
dear elijah craig followers, i am canadian, purchased a 1. 7l bottle of 12 year old elijah craig in clemmons n / c about 15 years ago, as a product that was not available in canada at that time. i enjoy whiskey as a drink, however. my brother who lives in western canada is finally coming to ontario for a visit and the bottle of e c is still untapped. my brother is the bourbon drinker! and has never tried your product, as he likes jim bean or makers mark. after all this time the test of time and quality will arrive in a few weeks and i just hope the quality after all this time has not diminished. respond to this message, then i will let you know his response to your product. best to you all joe
i have to be honest that my first taste of this elijah craig made me wonder if i was out of my comfort zone. lovely smooth flavor, then it had a really strong kick (a real eye opener), but then the aftertastes kick in and they are delightful. easily one of my favorite bourbons and will definitely be back for more !
, kentucky, it is the second largest holder of bourbon whiskey in the world. in the open - rick warehouses where the world' s finest bourbon ages in charred white oak, you can almost feel the presence of legends like
currently my favorite bourbon. sweet vanilla and chocolate on the nose. very deep, rich flavor. herbal, and sweet, with a dash of pepper. i got roasted marshmallows on the finish. this is my weekend bourbon .
the elijah craig brand, made by heaven hill distillery, is a perfect example of both the reality and the myth surrounding the bourbon shortage that seems to make national news every few months. that the regular 12 - year - old small batch version is consistently on shelves demonstrates that, at least for the largest distilleries (heaven hill also makes evan williams and a host of other bourbons), their standard release versions don’t seem to be suffering too much from the aforementioned shortage .
the 12 - year - old expression of elijah craig has a medium length exit which is remarkably smooth for a spirit which 94 proof. after the swallow there is a dry spiciness which hints at oak sap and cinnamon left glowing on the palate. just enough sweetness pushed through to balance the dry spice, and with ice lovely espresso flavours reveal in the finish .
this whiskey opens up with a sweet aroma of toffee, followed by a spicy bite on the tongue. warm and bold, but not as well balanced as it could be. from my discussions with other bourbon fans, i' ve learned that elijah craig tends to be inconsistent, with some bottles outstanding and some, like this one, not as appealing. if you can find the 18 - year - old expression, buy that instead. for not much more money it blows this one away. for more reviews, including the results of our bourbon taste tests, please visit professorcocktail. com .
was a christmas present from the in laws (or should i say the mrs gift wrapped for them) decent bourbon started off unimpressed but as the bottle went down my impression went up decent bourbon but still prefer bulleit and buffalo trace .
this nose is best described as woody, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise since it’s been sitting in the barrel for 23 years. deep notes of mahogany are up front and present upon first smelling this bourbon. hiding behind the mahogany are light traces of grain and dried fruit, predominantly dried cherry. while very pleasant, the nose is much more subtle than prior editions of high aged elijah craig. it just didn' t hold my attention as much as some of the others .
i’ve long heard about the folklore around bourbon. who started making it first, where the name came from etc, etc. the one thing that i hear over and over, and that almost everyone else agrees upon is that elijah craig, a baptist preacher, created the process for “true kentucky bourbon”. he’s credited with the process of putting his distillate into charred oak barrels. these barrels gives the distillate that flavor that we’ve all come to love. now, whether you choose to believe that or not, that’s up to you. no one will ever really know, but it’s always nice to think back and wonder how this incredible process was started. i personally enjoy hearing all the stories about how bourbon came into existence. the fact that we have a figurehead to pin it to makes it an even more exciting facet of the story of this bourbon .
this bourbon is perfect. it has the best bite, full, sweet, rich finish of any i have tried .
batch 9 was my bourbon of 2015. batch 10 is, unfortunately, disappointing for me. much less vanilla than in the past, more spicy and pronounced burn despite having comparable abv. less balanced, and just doesn’t taste like elijah craig to me. reminds me more of stagg jr, but the current bottle of stagg jr i have is better than this. looks like the suggested price is going up by $ 10 soon. if the next release is like this one i won’t be getting it .
i have been a bourbon drinker for decades and have pretty much tried them all. despite the fact that this whiskey is aged for 12 years, i don' t find it particularly smooth. in fact, to me it is rather harsh with a strong alcohol taste and little else. compared to weller 12 year old, which is becoming very hard to find, it doesn' t come close in any way. if you want a strong
high octane
type bourbon, stick with knob creek. evan williams single barrel, which is ten years old and less expensive, is far superior. it is a much more sophisticated bourbon. even run of the mill makers mark is far superior to elijah craig. this 12 year old whiskey is totally disappointing .
easily the worst bourbon 🥃 i' ve ever had. i wouldn' t suggest spending your money on this rubbing alcohol .
the original small - batch bourbon before that term was widely used. produced from barrels which have been hand selected by the master distillers and put together to create what can only be described as one of the most complete perfectly balanced bourbon whiskeys widely available .
for an inexpensive bourbon, you cant go wrong here. 5 stars because f the blend of good taste and inexpensive price .
the first thing that i notice when nosing the glass of this elijah craig 12 year bourbon is the dominant oak note. followed with some vanilla. the oak has a very hearty weight to it. it’s a deep dark oak note. very interesting. after i got past that initial scent i began picking up on a sweet caramel and chocolate note. i believe that added to rich heartiness of the oak that i was initially picking up. this bourbon has a pretty in - depth nose. definitely more diverse than other bourbons in this price range. it’s not quite as deep as the angel’s envy cask strength, but it’s in a similar vein that’s for sure .
the gift shop sells for higher because they don’t want to undercut their retailers. it’s a pretty common practice. even outside out bourbon
elijah craig is a premium brand of bourbon whiskey produced by the heaven hill distillery company . the company is headquartered in bardstown , kentucky , and its distillery ( called the heaven hill bernheim distillery ) is in louisville , kentucky . the brand is sold as a straight bourbon . it is sold in glass 750 ml bottles , and the small batch bourbon is also available in glass 1.75 l bottles . elijah craig whiskey is made in both " small batch " and 18-year-old " single barrel " bottlings . the small batch bottling had been 12-year-old but in 2016 was changed to a composite of 8 - and 12-year old to extend the inventory . the 18 year old single barrel bourbon was touted as " the oldest single barrel bourbon in the world at 18 years . . . " made in oak barrels that are " hand selected by parker and craig beam , " losing nearly 2/3 of the barrels ' contents in angel 's share . 21-year and 23-year single barrel have also been released , but only in very limited quantities . the barrels are later sold to the scotch whisky industry or used by microbrewers for making bourbon barrel aged beer such as goose island brewery 's " bourbon county " imperial stout ( see brewing methods ) . 
elijah craig is a premium brand of bourbon whiskey produced by the heaven hill distillery company. the company is headquartered in bardstown, kentucky, and its distillery (called the heaven hill bernheim distillery) is in louisville, kentucky. the brand is sold as a straight bourbon. it is sold in glass 750 ml bottles, and the small batch bourbon is also available in glass 1.75 l bottles. elijah craig whiskey is made in both " small batch " and 18-year-old " single barrel " bottlings. the small batch bottling had been 12-year-old but in 2016 was changed to a composite of 8 - and 12-year old to extend the inventory. the 18 year old single barrel bourbon was touted as " the oldest single barrel bourbon in the world at 18 years... " made in oak barrels that are " hand selected by parker and craig beam, " losing nearly 2/3 of the barrels' contents in angel's share. 21-year and 23-year single barrel have also been released, but only in very limited quantities. the barrels are later sold to the scotch whisky industry or used by microbrewers for making bourbon barrel aged beer such as goose island brewery's " bourbon county " imperial stout (see brewing methods).
elijah craig is a premium brand of bourbon whiskey produced by the heaven hill distillery company. the company is headquartered in bardstown, kentucky, and its distillery (called the heaven hill bernheim distillery) is in louisville, kentucky. the brand is sold as a straight bourbon. it is sold in glass 750 ml bottles, and the small batch bourbon is also available in glass 1.75 l bottles. elijah craig whiskey is made in both " small batch " and 18-year-old " single barrel " bottlings. the small batch bottling had been 12-year-old but in 2016 was changed to a composite of 8 - and 12-year old to extend the inventory. the 18 year old single barrel bourbon was touted as " the oldest single barrel bourbon in the world at 18 years... " made in oak barrels that are " hand selected by parker and craig beam, " losing nearly 2/3 of the barrels' contents in angel's share. 21-year and 23-year single barrel have also been released, but only in very limited quantities. the barrels are later sold to the scotch whisky industry or used by microbrewers for making bourbon barrel aged beer such as goose island brewery's " bourbon county " imperial stout (see brewing methods).