Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

Double barreling isn’t a new sensation. Old Forester pioneered the concept in 1910 when a fire in the bottling building caused a stir, resulting in dumped barrels of bourbon to be re-barreled in new barrels when the bottling line was shut down. Woodford Reserve brought the expression to new heights with its Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon. Now, in recent years, Heaven Hill has introduced Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel.

Honoring the Father of Bourbon 

Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher, explorer, and farmer, settled what is now Georgetown, Kentucky. There, in 1789,  along the banks of Royal Spring, legend has it that he distilled the first bourbon, using surplus corn. Turning grains into a value-added product, like whiskey, made good business sense, as corn, in the day, was difficult to transport and was subject to mold, pestilence, and vermin. Rumor has it, too, that it was Craig that introduced the sour mash process to fermentation. 

The Tasting 

Elijah Craig bourbons share the signature, flagship Heaven Hill mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley and is bottled at 94 proof. Heaven Hill utilizes fully matured Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon, which has been aged 8 to 12 years. The whiskey is then placed into a second, custom toasted barrel for finishing.

From the website we’re told to expect delicious dark sugar flavors, smokiness and sweetness, along with a taste that is big, rich, and complex with spice and pepper notes that fade into milk chocolate with a hint of smoke as the finish lingers with chocolate and baking spices.

Eye: Deep amber with an abundance of centipede legs on the inside of my Glencairn glass. 

Nose: Wonderfully delicious, with warm vanilla, sweet oak, caramel, creme brulee custard, and the smell of walking past the Cinnabon shop at the mall, with warm cinnamon rolls freshly pulled from the oven and drizzled in vanilla icing. 

Palate: Sweet and balanced, with vanilla, brown sugar, spice, and soft oak. There are lighter notes of cocoa powder, toasted marshmallow, and graham cracker.  

Finish: Long and dry, with oak, spice, and vanilla.  

Overall: Absolutely delicious! That said, this is not Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. I’ve felt that expression is almost  dessert-like, with its sweetness, marzipan, and dark chocolate notes. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is definitely more savory, yet full-flavored, and finds middle-ground between sweet and spicy. Priced at $49, this is one I’ll buy again when this one runs out!