Individual Review: Elijah Craig Small Batch

Opening Statement (Description of the Whiskey):

Elijah Craig Small Batch is a Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced by Heaven Hill Distillery. Heaven Hill is the largest family owned and operated American distillery and the sixth largest supplier of distilled spirits in United States. The distillery was founded in 1933 after prohibition and was funded in large part by the Shapira family in Kentucky. In 1935, the Shapiras bought out the distillery and have kept the business in the family ever since. Today, Max Shapira is the current president of Heaven Hill. The company's Elijah Craig Small Batch is named for Reverend Elijah Craig, a Kentucky Baptist preacher who is credited by some to have created the very first bourbons by putting his whiskey in charred oak barrels. However, historians, such as Michael Veach, have called this claim erroneous. While Rev. Elijah Craig was a Kentucky preacher who did distill whiskey in Kentucky beginning in the late 1700s, he likely was not the first distiller to create bourbon. Regardless of the whiskey's namesake, this is Heaven Hill's the most affordable member of their Elijah Craig series and is readily available across the United States. It used to be labeled as a 12 year bourbon, however, around 2016 the company dropped the age statement and began blending its 12 year old Elijah Craig barrels with ones as young as 8 years to keep up with demand.

Parent Company: Not applicable. Heaven Hill Brands is privately owned by the Shapira family.

Distillery & Bottling Company: Heaven Hill

Mash Bill: 78% Corn, 10% Rye, and 12% Malted Barley

Proof: 94

Age: 8-12 Years

Direct Examination (AKA Tasting Notes):

Nose: Marshmallow, Toffee, Honey, Chocolate, Ethanol, and Sweet Corn

Palate: Honey, Toasted Vanilla, Burnt Caramel, and Strong Barrel Tannins

Finish: Short to Medium Length, Barrel Tannins, Burnt Caramel, and Vanilla

Mouth Feel: Medium

Cross Examination (AKA The Whiskey's Shortcomings):

Bitter barrel tannins can be pretty overpowering on the palate and finish. The finish is also very simple with only two notes coming through.

Closing Arguments (AKA Conclusions about the Whiskey): The nose begins with creamy marshmallow and toffee. Honey is also present as well as a very faint chocolate. Mild ethanol and sweet corn are the last notes found. This is an extremely friendly and flavorful nose that makes me excited to take a sip.

The honey found on the nose appears again on the palate. Toasted vanilla and burnt caramel are right be behind the honey. Following the sweetness are loud astringent barrel tannins. The end of the palate leaves much to be desired.

The bitterness from the close of the palate travels over to the finish. Behind the lip puckering tannins lie the pleasant notes of burnt caramel and vanilla notes. However, the bitter barrel tannins by far dominate the finish. The finish lingers for a short to medium length.

Elijah Craig Small Batch has a delectable nose with rich flavors that complement one another extremely well. However, its bitterness from the palate and finish makes the drinker want to smack their mouth a bit. A little bit of tannin bitterness in a whiskey actually helps reign in overly sweet characteristics, but here they overcompensate and create a less satisfying experience. The notes behind the finish are also simple, faint, and few in number, but perhaps that is because the tannins are too strong for the flavors break through. All this is not to say it is a bad whiskey though. Once one acclimates to the tannins the whiskey's classic sweet vanilla and caramel bourbon profile become apparent and create a more enjoyable sip.

Elijah Craig Small Batch a good whiskey. All the ingredients for it to be great are there: a flavorful and layered nose, classic rich bourbon notes on the palate, smoothness, and barrel juice that is not overly cut with water. However, the rather overwhelming barrel tannins and lack of flavor depth on the finish hold it back from becoming one of my favorite bourbons. I never got to try Elijah Craig Small Batch before it lost its age statement, and I can't help but wonder if that expression was a better product. Elijah Craig can be found for about $25 to $30 in most places. $25 is a fair price in my opinion. This is a good gateway product for moving from bottom to mid shelf bourbons. I do like this whiskey, but there are other things I would rather drink first.

Verdict (AKA Score): 6.5

Verdict Key: 10: I do not possess the vocabulary to adequately or accurately describe this masterpiece. It should not be possible for man to create such art. 9: Incredible. Hoard this stuff. Paying secondary market prices is totally worth it. 8: A real pleasure to sip. Always try to have at least one bottle and a back up on hand. 7: A solid pour. Daily drinker for sure. Try to have a bottle on hand. 6: Would not say no to a pour if offered to me, but I won't go out of my way to find it. 5: Good to mix with a coke. 4: Swing and a miss. A mixer makes it tolerable. 3: Only if I had nothing else to drink in the house. 2: Was this made in a prison toilet? 1: This is the stuff the KGB used to slowly and painfully kill prisoners. 0: An abomination of epic proportions. Should not be called whiskey.