Elijah Craig - Toasted Barrel - 2022
$49
Elijah Craig – Toasted Barrel
Proof: 94
Age: No Age Statement
Distillery: Elijah Craig Distillery Co (Heaven Hill)
Type: Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Mash: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Website: Elijah Craig
*Disclaimer: A score of 5 is the midpoint for my reviews. Above 5 I like it. Below 5 I didn’t for some reason. Most of my reviews are between 4-7. It takes something really really special to go above 7 or below 4. See the methodologies for rating at the end of the article
Nose: Light Oak, Floral Rose, Candied Brown Sugar, All Spice and Vanilla.
Taste/Palate: Sweet Rich Caramel, Toasted Oak, New Leather, and Raisin.
Finish: Spearmint, Oak, Cinnamon, Dark Fruits, and All Spice. Spearmint can sometimes be a bit of a deterrent, but in this case it was subtle and complimentary.
Verdict: As mentioned below, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel has slightly restored by faith in this finishing technique. Up to this point I have only had bad experiences with Toasted Finishes. If you’re a fist time reader I tend to gravitate towards mature, complex, and well balanced flavors. Typically Toasted Finishes bring a young unbalanced element that doesn’t appeal to me. Elijah Craig delivers so far the best Toasted Finish that I’ve had yet. This is no contender for a whiskey of the year for me, but it’s a solid pour that I enjoy.
The Story: I’m not going to lie. I’m not the biggest fan of Toasted finishes. Most of the time you get a bready flavor profile. Each time I have been talked into buying a bottle I have been grossly disappointed. One local shop had a (undisclosed) Michigan Toasted Barrel – Barrel Finished – Single barrel that they claimed was the “best bourbon ever made in Michigan”. To this day it’s the worst bourbon I have ever had. I was talked into Basil Haden – Toasted and I was let down again. I haven’t experience Michter’s Toasted yet, but for now Elijah Craig has slightly redeemed this finishing technique for me. At least I know that they all aren’t drain pours.
The Distillery’s Story: “In 1789, Elijah Craig became the first distiller to age his whiskey in new charred oak barrels. Some claim that an accidental fire charred his barrels and changed the whiskey inside. Others say he stored his whiskey in former sugar barrels and was impressed with how charring improved the flavor.”
“However it happened, Elijah Craig knew he had discovered something great. He continued to refine the barrel charring process, imparting smooth, rich flavor to the spirit that would become known as Bourbon. 250 years later, he is still known as the Father of Bourbon—and we craft our Bourbon today using the same time-honored methods.”
“Reverend Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher, an educator, and an entrepreneur who built the first paper and wool mills in Georgetown, Kentucky. But for all his industries, it was his gift as a distiller and an innovator that brought him his greatest acclaim. While we draw inspiration from parts of Elijah Craig’s story, his legacy will forever be stained by his connection to slavery. Like other Kentucky landowners of his generation, Elijah Craig owned slaves. Uncovering the roles of these laborers, how they contributed to the birth of the Bourbon industry and what happened to them and their families is a critical mission of our brand today. Elijah Craig is actively engaged in academic research and other initiatives to not just uncover the past, but to make America today a more just and equitable country.”
Specific to Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel – “Twice barreled for added complexity, Toasted Barrel takes our award-winning Small Batch Bourbon to new heights. After it’s fully matured, we finish this Bourbon in a second, custom toasted new oak barrel, where it’s left to develop even more sweet oak flavor.”
Methodologies for Rating:
1. Dump it down the drain or regift it to someone you don’t care for.
2. This doesn’t even belong in a mixed drink. Use in case of an emergency.
3. It’s really not for me, but I heard some people like it.
4. Its only good when I’ve had too many and it’s decent in a mixer.
5. Average. Not bad, but not special.
6. Above average. Good to bring to an event and you wouldn’t expect any guff from it.
7. Buy two if you see it to make sure you have one on reserve.
8. Very Very good. Constantly a GREAT POUR.
9. Superb. If I were to drink this and only this from now on I’d be a happy person.
10. Perfection is impossible. But this really comes as close as you can possibly get.
Reviewer: David S
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