Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Elijah Craig was a baptist preacher who is credited by some as pioneering the process for “true Kentucky bourbon” in 1789. He is credited with being the first to put his distillate into charred oak barrels, one of the key requirements for a whiskey to be classified as bourbon.

This is what the distillery says about the process of making this relatively new release: “The process begins with fully matured Small Batch, which is dumped and then re-entered at barrel proof into a second, custom toasted new oak barrel designed in partnership with Independent Stave Company. Made with 18-month air dried oak, the finishing barrel is first toasted and then flash-charred using a moderate toast temperature and toast time. An extensive research and development process resulted in a final barrel toast profile bringing forward dark sugar flavors within the wood to create a balance of smokiness and sweetness after months of finishing.”

It’s a lot of work, but the end result is well worth the deliberate process. It exudes notes of campfire, s’mores, some dried fruits and a hint of caramel. On the mouth, a burst of cocoa paired with some spices, and a splash of vanilla and oak. It’s incredibly smooth, no rough edges and quite enjoyable to sip neat or with a single cube. I’m glad they decided to make this part of their regular lineup moving forward… it deserves to be.