Heaven Hill Distillery | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Bardstown, KY | $26.99* | 94 proof | NAS (at least 4 years old) | 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley.

The whiskey.

Elijah Craig is part of bourbon folklore for creating modern bourbon. Some credit him to be the first to age distillate in charred barrels. It is one of many theories and legends on how we have modern bourbon (not a fact.) We know Elijah Craig was a real person and a preacher making whiskey, but we do not know if he was the first to make it. The Elijah Craig small batch is the current version of what used to be Elijah Craig 12 year. To meet the demand and keep its price point, Heaven Hill dropped the age statement. While Weller 12 did not, making it hard to find and expensive. I have heard it is a blend of 8 and 12-year barrels. 

The taste.

The beautiful copper color leaves no doubt you are holding a whiskey. A fresh stream carries a platter of oak, vanilla, and caramel to your nose; scream bourbon. It has a smooth texture that does not cling to your mouth. Oak takes the lead with sweet vanilla on its heels as they ride across your tongue. Leaving a floating spice throughout your semi-dry mouth.

The takeaway.

The Elijah Craig small batch is your classic bourbon. The oak, vanilla, and caramel are consistent throughout. It is approachable in taste and your wallet. The 12-year bourbon carried more oak on the palate than the small batch. Meaning the loss of the age statement makes it appealing to more people. It lives up to its price point but doesn't reach beyond that. 

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