Bourbon Heritage Month 2020 Day 13 Part 3: Elijah Craig “Found”

BourbonReviewsHeaven HillSingle Barrel Picks

Sep 13

Written By David Levine

Elijah Craig Small Batch Single Barrel “Found”

“Found”

Heaven Hill

47% ABV/94 Proof

NAS, 8-12 YO

Barrel 5089387, Rickhouse AA, 4th Floor

Eye: Amber leaning towards brown.

Nose: Oak spice hits the back of the throat first. Traditional bourbon notes follow, if a little watered down. Some baking spice, too.

Palate: A little heat, lots of caramel and vanilla with a strong oak backbone. Thin mouthfeel but it coats the tongue. Corn sweetness rounds out the back end.

Finish: Corn sweetness, short, uncomplicated.

Overall: Kind of…disappointing? Definitely the weakest of the trio. The flavors are there but unlike the “Reward” bottle they taste and smell watered-down here. The mouthfeel does no favors either.

Rating: 4.5

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)