Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 750mL

Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 750mL

Elijah Craig is named after a Reverend who lived in Virginia, who had the bright idea to use charred casks for their legendary whiskey after a devastating warehouse fire nearly destroyed their entire whiskey supply. He found that the charred oak casks imparted an amazing flavour and a unique reddish colour onto the whiskey, and they named this special 18 year aged small batch bourbon whiskey after Elijah Craig! Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon quickly gained a cult following upon its release in the 1990s as the oldest single barrel Bourbon on the market, and one that garnered multiple medals and awards throughout the nation and the world. It captured Double Gold/Best Bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named one of the top 50 spirits by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Tasting Notes

The aroma: Very sweet, with notes of honey and (perhaps because it’s close to Halloween) candy corn; the wood contributes a nice nuttiness. A terrific nose that made me eager to sip. The taste: As promised, this is a very complex bourbon, with a wonderful interplay between sweetness (that honey again) and white-pepper spice, along with a pecan note from the wood. After a cool entry, the bourbon warms mid-palate, but never overpowers. It has a nice thick mouth feel and a long finish that combines mint and a lingering sweetness. The verdict: Welcome back, Elijah! When it comes to over-aged bourbon, the guys at Heaven Hill know how to pick ’em. I am typically not a fan of bourbon that is more than about 12 years old because so many of them pick up a bitterness from the tannin, but I have yet to encounter that discordant note in the Elijah Craig line. This is one to savour neat – and, with its handsome packaging and blue/copper labelling, to admire on your bar. Thanks to the Bourbon Babe for that.

Awards

2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition “Best Bourbon” “Double Gold Medal” WSWA Spirits Tasting Competition“Gold Medal”