Kentucky Straight Whiskey
Distilled and Bottled by
Elijah Craig Distillery Co
Bardstown, KY
Distilled and Bottled by
Elijah Craig Distillery Co
Bardstown, KY
Score Card
Shelf: Middle
Price: $25
Proof: 94 proof
Age: No age statement. Best guess 7 to 8 years
Mash Bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
Color: Rich amber
Nose: Citrus orange, cinnamon, hints of cherry, vanilla sweetness
Taste: The rye is bright and hot on the tongue which quickly smooths out with notes of oak and corn. Has that Heaven Hill warm oak flavor with a complex aromatic finish.
Value: A lot of bourbon for the buck. One of the best bourbons value on the market.
Score: 88
Cut To The Chase: Yes, buy, drink and enjoy.
Price: $25
Proof: 94 proof
Age: No age statement. Best guess 7 to 8 years
Mash Bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
Color: Rich amber
Nose: Citrus orange, cinnamon, hints of cherry, vanilla sweetness
Taste: The rye is bright and hot on the tongue which quickly smooths out with notes of oak and corn. Has that Heaven Hill warm oak flavor with a complex aromatic finish.
Value: A lot of bourbon for the buck. One of the best bourbons value on the market.
Score: 88
Cut To The Chase: Yes, buy, drink and enjoy.
Bourbon Notes
At $25 a bottle, this is one of the best bourbons around for the price. It can be a little rough on the edges but I really like that about Elijah Craig Small Batch. It’s not smooth, soft and silky. It’s got body and bite, but also has a great finish. At 94 proof it has personality and attitude. There is also enough barrel age to deliver a complex bourbon. Feels like it’s a year or more under oak than the other bourbons in this price range. There is a lot to like here.
Heaven Hill seemed to have adjusted their mash bill from the 12 year Elijah Craig Small Batch to a more balanced and pleasant Elijah Craig Small Batch 1789. While there is no longer an age statement, and probably a few years less in the barrel than the 12 year, the Small Batch 1789 a little sweeter and more accessible. I always felt the 12 year had a slightly bitter finish, where with this release, there is better balance between corn and oak.
I’ve bought this bourbon several times and have noticed slight differences between bottles. For me, it’s a good sign that each batch reflects the slight variations in barrels. There is not an attempt to blend the personality out of each bottle for the sake of boring consistency. I also picked up a 1.75 liter bottle of Craig Small Batch at Total Wine for $39. I know it doesn’t make sense, but for me, the larger bottles are always a little better.
In 2017, the Beverage Warehouse, in Marina Del Rey, California, bought a barrel of Elijah Craig 1789 and released it as an Elijah Craig 1789 single barrel. It was outstanding. I still have a few bottles left, and will review that release separately. Heaven Hill, if you are reading this, in addition to Elijah Craig Small Batch, please please release Elijah Craig 1789 as a 94 proof Single Barrel. The Barrel Proof release is amazing, but a single barrel would be a great addition to the line.
Either way Elijah Craig Small Batch 1789 is a buy and something I continue to return to again and again. Just because you see it everywhere, and it isn’t hard to find, doesn’t mean it isn’t good to drink. Elijah Craig Small Batch 1789 is bourbon with a capital “B.”
Reviewed by: Jack Epps, Jr.
Send comments to: Bourbonnotes@gmail.com
Heaven Hill seemed to have adjusted their mash bill from the 12 year Elijah Craig Small Batch to a more balanced and pleasant Elijah Craig Small Batch 1789. While there is no longer an age statement, and probably a few years less in the barrel than the 12 year, the Small Batch 1789 a little sweeter and more accessible. I always felt the 12 year had a slightly bitter finish, where with this release, there is better balance between corn and oak.
I’ve bought this bourbon several times and have noticed slight differences between bottles. For me, it’s a good sign that each batch reflects the slight variations in barrels. There is not an attempt to blend the personality out of each bottle for the sake of boring consistency. I also picked up a 1.75 liter bottle of Craig Small Batch at Total Wine for $39. I know it doesn’t make sense, but for me, the larger bottles are always a little better.
In 2017, the Beverage Warehouse, in Marina Del Rey, California, bought a barrel of Elijah Craig 1789 and released it as an Elijah Craig 1789 single barrel. It was outstanding. I still have a few bottles left, and will review that release separately. Heaven Hill, if you are reading this, in addition to Elijah Craig Small Batch, please please release Elijah Craig 1789 as a 94 proof Single Barrel. The Barrel Proof release is amazing, but a single barrel would be a great addition to the line.
Either way Elijah Craig Small Batch 1789 is a buy and something I continue to return to again and again. Just because you see it everywhere, and it isn’t hard to find, doesn’t mean it isn’t good to drink. Elijah Craig Small Batch 1789 is bourbon with a capital “B.”
Reviewed by: Jack Epps, Jr.
Send comments to: Bourbonnotes@gmail.com