Elijah Craig Single Malt Whisky 62.8%

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 62.8% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Batch A123 is the first Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release of 2023 and was launched in January. The twelve-year-old bourbon was released at 125.6 Proof, equivalent to 62.8%. Its batch code identifies the release: “A” denotes the first release of the year, “1” stands for January and “23” represents 2023.

This Kentucky Straight Bourbon is bottled undiluted at cask strength and without chill filtration. Its grain recipe consists of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye. It matures for twelve years in new, charred oak barrels. Pronounced caramel and vanilla notes sit alongside a distinctive, tannin-rich oak character.

This batch brings together dark fruit, dry oak and fiery spice. Blackberry and plum provide a brief sweet counterpoint to its oak-driven character. To soften the cask strength, a few drops of water can be added after the first sip, adjusting the dilution to personal taste.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Rich caramel, sweet charred oak and cherry wood are accompanied by vanilla and a suggestion of fudge. Light mint and pine notes complement the intense nose.
• Palate: The bourbon feels dense and powerful on the palate. Caramel and tannin-rich, charred oak provide the framework for blackberry, plum and vanilla. The dark fruit sweetness emerges only briefly, while oak shapes the rest of the palate.
• Finish: Chilli opens the finish, joining cinnamon and tannin-rich oak. Nutmeg and a lingering, dry, astringent leather note then remain.

Distillery/Bottler:

Heaven Hill produces this bourbon in Kentucky, where the whiskey matures in oak barrels, under the Elijah Craig brand. Heaven Hill was founded in 1935 by investors from the Bardstown area and the five Shapira brothers and remains family-run today. Following the fire at its Bardstown distillery in 1996, the company acquired the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville in 1999 as its new distilling site.

The Elijah Craig brand was introduced in 1986. Its name honours Reverend Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher and entrepreneur in Kentucky. Heaven Hill uses new oak barrels with a level 3 char for Elijah Craig bourbons. For Barrel Proof, the whiskey remains undiluted before bottling; each bottle is labelled with its strength and batch number.

Facts: