Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Elijah Craig is one of those mysterious, mythical figures at the start of bourbon history. His eponymous brand is owned by Heaven Hill, with the tagline “first in oak” referring to the story in which he was the first to barrel his distillate in oak.
Is it true? Who knows. We do know there was a Reverend Elijah Craig, and that he was a distiller. The story around him varies, though: some have it that the Reverend had used barrels holding fish (or something else that would heavily influence the wood) and he decided to burn the insides in an effort to re-use them without the fishiness. Another has it that his barrel storage area caught fire and he was able to save some barrels that he then used to hold distillate, finding out the charred wood had a positive influence. There are other stories between the two, but the point is it’s a bourbon legend cloaked in myth.
Elijah Craig Small Batch - a great deal at around $25 a bottle - is one of those bourbons I love to have around (even though as I’m writing this I’m realizing I don’t have one! Not a modern one at least…). It’s a great value that to me is a classic bourbon profile. Just like I think Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is what a pure, barrel-strength bourbon should taste like, I consider “regular” Elijah Craig Small Batch to be the benchmark of what an everyday bourbon should taste like (and I mean that as a compliment).
With that in mind, when I heard about Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, I was thrilled to hear that this wasn’t quite a different line but rather an extension. The Toasted Barrel uses Elijah Craig Small Batch (while it’s still at barrel proof) and ages it further in a brand new barrel from Independent Stave Company that has been medium toasted and flash charred. The second barrel is made from American oak that has been air-dried for 18 months.
I enjoyed this. Since the second (toasted) barrel is brand new, the flavor profile you get from toasting is fresh and vibrant. If anything, it reminded me of the oakiness on a big, bold red (think Bordeaux or Barolo, or a Mendoza Cabernet Sauvignon) but without the tannins - thank you, air drying!
It’s worth noting that more brands are coming out with variations on the “toasted barrel finish” - Broken Barrel, Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Old Forester 1910, and Jack Daniel’s Heritage Barrel are just a few that swung onto the bandwagon between 2018-2020. Michter’s toasts all of their barrels, with their Toasted Sour Mash, Toasted Barrel Bourbon, and Toasted Barrel Rye all taking the toasting a step further. Wine producers have been toasting their barrels for decades (notably not charring, which creates different compounds), but toasting for the point of flavor is relatively new to the bourbon/American whiskey scene. I’m glad it’s finally here.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Specs
Classification: Bourbon
Origin: Heaven Hill Distillery
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley
Proof: 94 (47% ABV)
Age: NAS, 8-12 Years Old Before Secondary Aging
Location: Kentucky
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Price: $50
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Amber maple syrup. Thin rims and thin legs.
Nose: Ooh that’s nice - bourbon and oak well-balanced. Dry cinnamon stick and a little custard. Wood char and a touch of the toasted wood. Great nose.
Palate: Brûlée oranges, good sweet heat. Tingly oak and dry spices work into the corners of my mouth. Drinks like a wheater with a hint of toast. I really like this. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied, not too hot, fruity, and oaky.
Finish: Medium-length, dry, and oaky but within reason, though the oak keeps building.
Overall: A nice upgrade over the standard Elijah Craig. The oak isn’t overpowering even as it grows. This drinks surprisingly like a wheater until the finish, where the oak starts to dominate. Cherries open up on the finish too.
Final Rating: 6.9
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)
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