Individual Review: Elijah Craig Small Batch - D Vine Wine and Spirits Barrel Pick

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.

This particular version of Elijah Craig Small Batch is actually a single barrel (as opposed to a small batch) in addition to being a barrel pick by D Vine Wine and Spirits based out of Southaven, Mississippi. The barrel chosen by the store has an age statement of 9.6 Years (rather than being a mix of barrels between 8 and 12 years old).

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: 9.6 Years

Direct Examination (AKA Tasting Notes):

Nose: Vanilla Cake, Caramel, Wisp of Cherry, Light Ethanol, and Corn

Palate: Vanilla, Caramel, Barrel Tannins, Candied Walnuts, and Mild Pepper

Finish: Medium to Long Length, Caramel, Dark Cocoa, Cherry, Oak, Pop of Pepper, and Barrel Tannins

Mouth Feel: Medium

Cross Examination (AKA The Whiskey's Shortcomings):

The flavors are not really unique and the barrel tannins could be a bit lighter on the finish.

Closing Arguments (AKA Conclusions about the Whiskey):

Soft and friendly vanilla cake greets the nose first. Caramel is also present and delightful. A small amount of cherry rounds up the sweet flavors. There slightest touch of ethanol and corn are at the end.

Sweet vanilla and caramel are once again the stars of the show on the palate. The sweetness is tempered by bitter oak tannins. The tannins combine with the caramel and vanilla to create a sensation akin to candied walnuts. Mild Pepper follows the walnut note.

The finish has a medium to long length and begins with caramel and dark intense cocoa. The cherry from the nose reappears next and creates an experience similar to chocolate dipped fruit. Oak comes after the cherry as well as a bit of pepper to remind the drinker that this is indeed a whiskey above 90 proof. Barrel tannins are the last thing found as the bourbon goes down.

This barrel pick takes the classic flavor profile of the regular Elijah Craig Small Batch and improves upon it. This single barrel pick has fruity cherry aspects that I did not find in my review of the standard version. The finish also has more depth and variety in its flavor profile (the cocoa I found was really enjoyable). However, the bourbon still possess some of the shortcomings that the original version does. There really are not any unique notes that make this bourbon stand out among competition. The barrel tannins, while milder in this version of the bourbon, are still a little too strong on the finish and can leave a bitter after taste in the mouth if the whiskey is "chewed" for too long. Despite these areas of improvement, it is nonetheless a friendly and delightful bourbon to sip on.

D Vine Wines and Spirits did a good job in selecting this barrel. They chose an expression of the bourbon that highlighted and improved the positive aspects of Elijah Craig Small Batch as well adding fruity notes. This pick is going for about $34, which I think is a little high, but I believe that is more of a reflection on how much Heaven Hill is selling their whiskeys for now rather than the store trying to gouge customers (even customers at the distillery's gift shop are often charged more than the MSRP for its whiskeys). D Vine Wines and Spirits was truly a fun experience. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. I look forward to more quality barrel picks like this one in the future.

Verdict (AKA Score): 6.75

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.