Elijah Craig 12 years Barrel proof

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.