Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon 700ml

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is a Kentucky straight bourbon made by Heaven Hill, the family-owned distiller based in Bardstown. It is bottled at 94 proof, or 47% ABV, giving it more body than most everyday bourbons.

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The bourbon carries the name of Rev. Elijah Craig, the Kentucky pioneer Heaven Hill credits as the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels. Heaven Hill says its master distillers were hand-picking a set number of barrels for Elijah Craig long before small batch became a common term, and that selection is what shapes the balance of rich flavour and full body. The distillery lists the whiskey in the bottle as 8 to 12 years old, though the label carries no age statement. Look for warm spice and a hint of smoke rather than pure sweetness.

Heaven Hill’s own tasting notes:

Nose: Complex, with vanilla bean, sweet fruit and fresh mint.

Palate: Smooth and warm, pleasantly woody, with spice, smoke and nutmeg.

Finish: Long, sweet and slightly toasty.

Heaven Hill’s own serve is an Old Fashioned: 60ml Elijah Craig Small Batch, a dash of simple syrup and three dashes of bitters stirred with ice, strained over a large cube and finished with an orange swath and a brandied cherry. It is also good neat in a tumbler, or with a splash of water to bring the fruit forward. Try it with pork belly, barbecue or a caramel tart. If you want a step up from entry-level bourbon without paying for a limited release, this is a sensible place to land.