Thank you so much for this, Morgan!

Elijah Craig Distillery, part of the Heaven Hill Distilleries group, is named after Reverend Elijah Craig, a pioneering figure in American whiskey history. Born in Virginia in 1738, Craig moved to Kentucky in the late 18th century, where he established a distillery around 1789. He is often credited with being the first to age whiskey in new charred oak barrels, a process that significantly enhanced the flavor and color of the spirit. This innovation laid the groundwork for what would become known as bourbon whiskey, earning Craig the title of "Father of Bourbon"(1)(2)(7).

Elijah Craig's contributions extend beyond his distilling innovations. He was a multifaceted individual who built the first paper and wool mills in Georgetown, Kentucky, and played a significant role in the local community as a Baptist preacher and educator. However, it is also important to acknowledge that his business operations relied on enslaved people, a critical aspect of his legacy that is being researched and acknowledged today(1)(9).

The Elijah Craig brand, introduced in 1986, honors Craig's legacy by producing a range of bourbons, including small batch and single barrel expressions. Among these, the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is particularly notable. This bourbon is bottled straight from the barrel without dilution or chill filtration, offering a pure and intense whiskey experience. Each batch varies in proof, typically ranging from 128 to 140 proof, and is aged for 12 years, although recent releases have included younger expressions(8).

Store picks of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof have become increasingly popular, allowing retailers to select unique barrels that reflect their own preferences. These single barrel picks often feature varying proofs and ages, offering enthusiasts a chance to explore different nuances within the Elijah Craig profile. For example, some store picks have been bottled at proofs as high as 133.4, showcasing the diversity and complexity that can be achieved through careful barrel selection(3)(6). These releases have contributed to Elijah Craig's reputation as a leader in the bourbon market, offering a blend of tradition and innovation that appeals to both collectors and casual drinkers.

Review:

Nose: This has a very strong cinnamon cherry note to it that I get straight away. I get a bit of the barrel char and oak toward the middle and back end but this bourbon is staying on the lighter side. I’m not getting as much brown sugar or vanilla notes on the nose as you typically would see with a pure/classic cask strength bourbon. The age comes through on this as I don’t get very much, if any, youthful characteristics or ethanol to it. There is a very faint nuttiness to it as well. Overall, a nice start!

Palate: This one has some pepper to it. It is a sweet hot flavor almost as if you grabbed some mike’s red hots and stripped away the ridiculously artificial fireball notes. The barrel char comes in strong here with various baking spices and dark fruited sweetness. Oddly, I didn’t get as much cherry on the palate but more like a dried sugared raspberry with hot honey. The pour itself is not as oily as other cask strengths, but it coats the mouth nicely and is very peppery on each sip. The Kentucky hug on this is more like a Kentucky chokehold. It has some wonderful notes, it is not overly complex, and it will absolutely put hair on your chest.

Finish: The finish arguably doesn’t(?). It just goes and goes and goes. The last note I get from the sip are the scent of peanut shells as if you’re leaving a ballgame in the 8th inning when you swore your significant other you’d stay the whole time and the Reds wouldn’t get blown out again. The finish finally starts to subside about 45 seconds to a minute after the sip. I finally toward the end got the faintest notes of brown sugar.

Overall: (80). This was a very solid cask strength bourbon. It has enough notes to be dangerous and isn’t overly complex where you just question whether or not you really like it. I think the age on this was great and it imparted the barrel spice that dominated the palate. I felt though that the proof carried through pretty hard here. While you may have some pours that don’t drink like their proof, this one absolutely did. After you took a sip, I wanted to look at the label to see if it was actually higher. It reminded me a bit of the Peerless High Rye Bourbon I did a review of. Very similar flavor profile and similar when it comes to the strength of the sip. This bottle was 124.9 proof and aged for 10 years. This was a Foremost Liquors Store Pick of Elijah Craig Single Barrel.

Value: 60/100; (+0 on the overall). Retail about $79.99. I think it is a solid buy for this price, not a great deal and not a bad deal. I think if you found one for this aged, you wouldn’t lose any sleep of spending some of your cash on this. I personally would like to compare this to a barrel proof offering to see how it compares on flavor profiles and presentation.

Availability: Medium availability. Many stores offer single barrel picks of Elijah Craig bottlings now, so after a few stores of hunting, you should be able to find one. 10 years old however is more uncommon, I have seen 8 to 9 year single barrels be the most common offerings.

Citations and other cool links:

Elijah Craig Single Barrel (10 yr Store Pick) - Review

The Book of Bourbon

Elijah Craig Single Barrel (10 yr Store Pick) - Review

Highland Park Cask Strength #5 - Review

The Book of Bourbon