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Elijah Craig 12 years Barrel proof

woody malty
3.7
(12)€80United States, Kentucky, Bourbon

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

This bourbon is named after a Baptist preacher many credit as the father of bourbon. The story goes that he was the first to age his spirit in charred oak barrels. That choice gave bourbon its colour and its sweet, toasty backbone. This bottling takes that idea to its limit. It comes straight from the barrel, uncut and full strength. Nothing is watered down to soften the edges. You get a big, rich pour of caramel and brown sugar, with warm cinnamon and clove behind it. It rewards slow sipping. A little patience lets the corn sweetness and dark chocolate notes unfold.

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Drankdozijn
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700mlOut of stock
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About the distillery

Distillery

Elijah Craig

In 1789, a Baptist preacher named Elijah Craig ran a distillery in Georgetown, Kentucky, not far from where Heaven Hill makes bourbon today. Legend credits him with the first use of charred oak barrels for aging whisky, a discovery that became the foundation of true Kentucky bourbon. Historians still debate whether Craig truly invented the method or simply popularized it, since other distillers were working in Kentucky around the same time. Either way, Heaven Hill named its flagship bourbon after him and calls him the Father of Bourbon. Elijah Craig Small Batch ages eight to twelve years in new charred oak, giving it notes of vanilla, spice and toasted wood. The brand waited until 1960 to trademark his name, then didn't release a bottled bourbon until 1986, decades after his death.

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11Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Elijah Craig 12 years Barrel proof

Elijah Craig 12 years Barrel proof is a Kentucky straight bourbon whisky from the United States. It is made by the Elijah Craig brand, based in the bourbon heartland of Kentucky. The whisky carries a 12 year age statement. This is one of the more serious bottlings in the range. The name honours Elijah Craig, a Baptist preacher and frontier distiller. He is often called the father of bourbon. The brand credits him as the first to char oak barrels for ageing whisky. That charred oak is where so much bourbon flavour begins. It gives colour, sweetness and a layer of toasted spice. Kentucky remains the home of this style today. Its warm summers and cold winters push spirit deep into the wood. What sets this bottling apart is its strength. It is poured uncut and straight from the barrel. Most bourbon whisky is diluted before bottling. This one is not. You taste the full, undiluted character that the cask gives. The proof can shift a little from batch to batch. Every release stays true to its raw, barrel-strength roots. The corn-led grain bill brings a natural sweetness. Years in charred oak add depth and grip. Expect thick caramel and brown sugar on the nose. The palate turns to dark chocolate and ripe cherry. Cinnamon and clove run through the long, warming finish. Elijah Craig 12 years Barrel proof drinks best neat, in a small pour. The high strength means a single dram goes a long way. Sip it slowly and let the heat settle. This is a bourbon whisky for people who want flavour at full volume. It suits anyone keen to taste bourbon the way it leaves the barrel.