Elijah Craig 23 YO

BourbonReviewsHeaven HillElijah CraigAmerican Whiskey

Nov 8

Written By David Levine

Elijah Craig 23 YO

Heaven Hill (Pre-Fire)

45% ABV/90 Proof

23 YO, Distilled 6/19/1990

Barrel 178

Eye: Pure copper. Medium rims and slow, medium droplet legs.

Nose: Lots of barrel char up front, intriguing smokiness that’s delicious. Plenty of roasted almonds and their skins. Quintessential Heaven Hill nutty notes.

Palate: Wood - I can feel it on the back of my teeth. Unlike the 18 YO, however, the oak is sweet and tastes good. Spicy, drying, and nutty. Might still ultimately taste like oak water but it’s much better oak water than the 18 YO. Mouthfeel is super coating - it dries on my entire palate and mouth immediately like a lacquer. Almonds are abundant even as the liquid - while coating - is thin.

Finish: All almonds, roasted on charred oak staves. Actually quite nice, might be the best part of this dram.

Overall: This is better than the 18 YO for sure. I don't know if the extra years are what's making a difference, or if it's because it's pre-fire, or what, but whatever it is I'm grateful. Still oak water but more flavorful and a better finish and mouthfeel.

Rating: 5.3

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)