Bourbon Heritage Month 2020 Day 13 Part 1: Elijah Craig “Reward”

Elijah Craig Small Batch Single Barrel “Reward”

Heaven Hill

47% ABV/94 Proof

NAS, 8-12 YO

Barrel 5360124, Rick Q

Eye: True amber, thick rims and legs. 

Nose: Tons of burnt sugar and creme brûlée. A caramel bomb - flan studded with baking spices, especially cinnamon. 

Palate: Baking spices explode onto the palate, followed by the sweet caramel and cooked vanilla beans. Mouthfeel is oily, coating, and medium-bodied. 

Finish: Medium length, cycles through caramel and cinnamon.

Overall: A great pick that drinks above its proof. Heavily cinnamon-forward with enough sweetness to keep it interesting. 

Rating: 6.2

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)