The Elijah Craig household grew by one right now.
Heaven Hill simply introduced {that a} brand-new bourbon, Elijah Craig 15-12 months-Outdated Bourbon, could be becoming a member of the critically acclaimed lineup, and followers are already salivating on the probability to strive it. Fortunate for you, right here at UPROXX, we have been in a position to get a complicated style of the brand new age-stated bottle for overview.
However why let the enjoyable cease there?
Whereas the instant query that involves thoughts is the way it compares to Elijah Craig 18-12 months-Outdated Bourbon, we took issues a step additional and determined to place your complete Elijah Craig whiskey lineup in a style take a look at to find out one of the best of the bunch.
Should you’re not aware of the enduring Elijah Craig lineup, that’s a stable indication that the rock you’ve been residing below is fairly cozy. With its launch in 1986 as a 12-year-old age-stated small-batch bourbon, Elijah Craig virtually instantly took the American whiskey world by storm. The model was created by the legendary late Grasp Distiller Parker Beam as a solution to honor the Reverend Elijah Craig, who’s at instances credited with being the person who first charred new oak barrels for the categorical objective of growing older whiskey. It’s an admittedly doubtful declare from a time when less-than-stellar documentation rewards one of the best storytellers greater than the honest-to-God reality, nevertheless it’s that compelling story that introduced us top-of-the-line on a regular basis bourbons available on the market.
You’ve bought to like some good bourbon lore.
Returning to the details, the brand new Elijah Craig 15-12 months-Outdated Bourbon follows within the footsteps of its 18-12 months-Outdated elder as a single-barrel expression. Which means every bottle you see in shops needs to be barely completely different, because the whiskey inside is drawn from a single cask earlier than the addition of Kentucky limestone water, which brings it to its closing proof of 54% ABV.
Let’s dive in and overview the total Elijah Craig whiskey lineup!
Additionally Learn: The High 5 UPROXX Whiskey Posts
8. Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey
ABV: 47%
Common Value: $30
The Whiskey:
What the model calls “the primary extra-aged Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey” within the Elijah Craig lineup, this expression is aged for no less than 4 years and bottled on the model’s traditional 47% ABV (94-proof).
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on this whiskey is fairly alluring, with honeyed mint tea notes combining with a contact of oak and a faint splash of darkish chocolate syrup. After two swirls of the glass, you start to choose up extra of these prototypical Kentucky rye notes, with salted caramel and cardamom aromas slowly rising. This can be a very nice nostril.
Palate: On the palate, you get a restrained, however undeniably scrumptious Kentucky rye whiskey with the entire hallmarks of the class. Caramel, nougat, honeyed mint tea, and black pepper spice all kick issues off within the mouth earlier than a barely extra natural notice comes ahead at midpalate. There’s even a light indication of some floral notes, vanilla, and Rainier cherries current.
End: The end is temporary, bringing a few of these gentle and candy notes like Rainier cherries, honey, and mint tea, that are balanced by a little bit of cardamom and rye spice.
Backside Line:
Elijah Craig Rye is a delightfully flavorful and well-balanced Kentucky rye whiskey that goes gentle on the spice however heavy on the enjoyment, with some mellow but distinct candy flavors steering the ship. This one is surprisingly higher than I bear in mind.
7. Elijah Craig Small Batch
ABV: 47%
Common Value: $30
The Whiskey:
To name Elijah Craig a traditional bourbon is to echo what’s been stated about it 100 instances over. Named after a famed Baptist preacher, Reverend Elijah Craig is credited, no less than by the model, because the “father of bourbon.”
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: From the primary whiff, Elijah Craig is an elevated model of Heaven Hill’s worth manufacturers. Most harking back to Evan Williams, it takes the standard bourbon aromas and dials them up a notch with vanilla extract crossing over into vanilla cream, brown sugar changing into extra distinct, and a strong oak spine totally forming.
Palate: On the palate is the place Elijah Craig presents few surprises once more, nevertheless it performs the hits with gusto. Brown sugar, vanilla, and caramel characteristic prominently, however a faint nuttiness and understated, stewed stone-fruit notes additional improve the flavour profile. The feel is unremarkable however substantial sufficient to permit every of these flavors to unfurl totally.
End: For the end, Elijah Craig closes with an interaction of oak, peanuts, and brown sugar that serves as a medium-length microcosm for your complete expertise.
Backside Line:
Generally, all you want is a prototypical whiskey, and this bourbon is as traditional because it comes. With a proof level that bridges the chew of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and the 40% ABV that novices is likely to be extra snug with, Elijah Craig Small Batch delivers taste in spades with approachability as its major calling card.
6. Elijah Craig Toasted Rye
ABV: 47%
Common Value: $45
The Whiskey:
For this toasted-barrel model of its Kentucky straight rye, Heaven Hill places its Elijah Craig rye whiskey in a second custom-toasted new oak barrel for added depth and taste.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on this one opens with peanut brittle and toasted marshmallows, giving a powerful indication of its toasted barrel provenance. I’m not mad at that. There’s a contact of black cherry, gooey caramel, and surprisingly sparse rye spice notes to go along with these barrel-driven aromas, which make this one initially troublesome to peg as a rye whiskey.
Palate: As soon as within the mouth, this whiskey retains its misleading nature with the toasted marshmallow, light oak tones, and caramel flavors masking plenty of the baking spice notes you sometimes affiliate with rye whiskey. There’s some black pepper and cinnamon bark at midpalate to go along with a average wisp of mint tea, plus a silky, medium-bodied mouthfeel on this one earlier than it transitions to the end.
End: The end is temporary and barely tannic. It’s marked by a contact of sorghum earlier than amplifying the rye spice, mint leaves, maple sweet, and cloves on the again finish. It’s a extremely marvelous end that I want lasted just a bit bit longer.
Backside Line:
Even supposing its candy taste profile bullies the baking spice and minty rye points to the background, this can be a scrumptious whiskey that elevates Elijah Craig’s straight rye base with some high-quality toasted oak notes.
5. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon
ABV: 47%
Common Value: $40
The Whiskey:
Elijah Craig’s (pretty) new bourbon, Toasted Barrel, first hit the market in mid-2020 with a splash regardless of the issue of launching a model throughout that point. Heaven Hill takes fully-matured Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon and finishes it in 18-month air-dried American oak barrels which are toasted and flash-charred for this expression.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on this bourbon is strong with hazelnut unfold, chocolate, mocha, and vanilla tones. I sometimes discover that toasted barrel bourbons strip a few of these darker, sweeter notes and steer issues towards marshmallows and honey, however this one does a superb job of sustaining these aromas on the nostril.
Palate: Milk chocolate, candied walnuts, and vanilla pods are instant standouts on the palate with this whiskey. They’re all well-developed flavors which are barely muddled, however eminently pleasing on follow-up sips. There’s additionally some added depth because of hints of caramel, Chelan cherries, and black pepper spice.
End: The end right here is short-to-medium with the flavors of caramel, milk chocolate, oak, and dried apricots standing out essentially the most.
Backside Line:
Right here’s what Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon is just not: like different toasted barrel bourbons. The way in which this whiskey maintains its darker, candy notes permits some hints of spice to raise the bottom, with a buttery texture that helps prolong the end and your enjoyment. That is some deceptively scrumptious stuff.
4. Elijah Craig 18-12 months Single Barrel Bourbon
ABV: 45%
Common Value: $250
The Whiskey:
Elijah Craig’s 18-year single-barrel expression is a dinosaur in additional methods than one. First, it’s a long-standing hyper-aged bourbon expression in a whiskey world that’s solely now reintegrating an inflow of equally aged bourbons. Second, it’s the final surviving member of the Elijah Craig lineup’s hyper-aged expressions, which as soon as included 20-, 21-, and 23-year-old choices.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril is wealthy with dense, well-aged oak and caramel candies at first, however these notes merely open the curtain to disclose layers of plum, darkish chocolate, and leather-based resting under the floor.
Palate: On the palate, Elijah Craig 18 swiftly finds each nook of your style buds and floods them with vanilla buttercream, leather-based, and caramel sweet flavors. The understated fruit tones from the nosing expertise are buried beneath lush waves of caramel and vanilla. Nonetheless, they in the end emerge and take form at midpalate as bananas and shaved coconuts.
End: The end is curt however marked by the richness of the coconut and caramel flavors, which satisfyingly coat the palate earlier than ceding your style buds to white pepper and vanilla earlier than undulating gently out of existence.
Backside Line:
The frequent criticisms following Elijah Craig 18 come from a two-pronged assault that claims it’s both under-proofed or overoaked. Each traces of fault-finding miss the mark.
Appreciated on its face, in addition to for its rarity, Elijah Craig 18 is a mellow, multifaceted whiskey that plumbs a depth of taste that may’t be discovered in additional reasonably aged expressions. For an easier-to-find various that outperforms its proof level in addition to its price ticket, give Elijah Craig Small Batch a strive.
3. Elijah Craig 15-12 months-Outdated Single Barrel Bourbon
ABV: 54%
Common Value: $150
The Whiskey:
This new 15-12 months expression of Elijah Craig Single Barrel Bourbon comes with a wholesome bump in ABV over its older sibling, the 18-12 months. The model claims its “54% ABV presents a delicate nod to Might 4, 1964 – the date the US Congress formally acknowledged Bourbon as a definite product of the US.” Positive!
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on this whiskey is filled with distinct candy notes, from recent bubblegum to gooey caramel, brown sugar, and black cherries. It’s a potent bouquet regardless of its modest proof, accented by pops of mature oak, oleo saccharum, nutmeg, cola nuts, and vanilla extract.
Palate: The primary sip of this whiskey is bursting with taste because it performs the hits: candied walnuts, oleo saccharum, black cherry syrup, mature oak, and vanilla. All of them evolve and open up at midpalate, the place some black pepper spice and a swirl of cinnamon bark stir issues up, earlier than sending a few of that savory caramel taste up the roof of your mouth. That is fantastic stuff.
End: The end is medium-length, and reissues the flavour of caramel candies, walnuts, black cherries, and a contact of candy oak throughout the palate and down the chest. It’s a improbable end.
Backside Line:
Oh boy. This simply is likely to be essentially the most balanced whiskey in your complete Elijah Craig lineup, delivering a ton of mature, candy flavors whereas balancing them out with wealthy barrel-driven points that push every lip-smackingly scrumptious notice deeper into your style buds till all of it crescendos with a satisfying send-off.
For many who have been searching for extra oomph out of the Elijah Craig 18-12 months Bourbon, Elijah Craig 15-12 months-Outdated Bourbon delivers a knockout because of its deceptively forceful punch and superbly composed flavors.
2. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525
ABV: 63.1%
Common Value: $95
The Whiskey:
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon is an absolute traditional of the bourbon world, so I’m going to imagine this one wants no introduction, expensive reader. What could be stated about one of many latest, extra exemplary releases, batch B525, is that this one is aged for 11 years and 6 months.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: The nostril on this batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon is buzzing with roasted almonds, brown sugar, nougat, and really faint orange pith notes. After just a few waves of the hand, the sweetness blows off a bit, and the nostril begins to favor the nuttier, earthier aromas.
Palate: On the palate, this whiskey follows an identical monitor with the sweetness gracing the tip of the tongue with brown sugar earlier than almonds, nougat, and caramel come careening in. At midpalate, it veers into the earthier tones with nougat and extra dilute caramel becoming a member of forces with peppercorns, nutmeg, and cornbread.
End: On the conclusion, there’s a recent hit of oak and nutmeg to spruce up the lingering candy notes of brown sugar on the medium-length end.
Backside Line:
Sufficient ink has been spilled over Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof Bourbon to fill the Ohio River, so suffice it to say that this critically acclaimed iteration is an above-average expression for a model whose baseline is excellence. It’s not the very best pinnacle the batched product has reached lately (with the legendary C923, and for me the even higher A123 standing out), nevertheless it’s rattling certain scrumptious, and proof constructive of Elijah Craig’s excellent high quality.
1. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey Batch A126
ABV: 60.2%
Common Value: $75
The Whiskey:
Elijah Craig followers didn’t know what hit them. In late 2025, the model introduced {that a} barrel-proof rye could be becoming a member of the lineup alongside the barrel-proof bourbon, and the group went wild. Then, when the proof was introduced, doubt crept in, and in the end the primary launch was met with combined opinions. Now in its second iteration, and at a a lot heftier 120.4-proof, expectations have been as soon as once more excessive. This time, expectations have been met.
Tasting Notes:
Nostril: A ton of honey, graham cracker, rye spice, and salted milk chocolate notes go away the glass and greet the senses at first. The rye spice grows in prominence over time, and it’s propped up by an infusion of brown sugar, mature oak tones, cinnamon, and cloves. It comes throughout as extra bourbon-y than rye-like, nevertheless it’s a decadent, balanced nostril all the identical.
Palate: On the palate, the primary sip is impressively dense and loaded with smoked honey, freshly cracked black pepper, light rye spice, and mature oak. It has a creaminess that actually blossoms at midpalate, giving it some nice heft as custard, brown sugar, and cinnamon bark notes begin to take form. That is beautiful stuff.
End: The end on this one is mellow however long-lasting, and prominently options rye spice, vanilla custard, black pepper, and honey. There’s a little bit of clove, milk chocolate, and mature oak rounding issues out, in addition to a flourish of Aleppo crimson pepper flakes.
Backside Line:
What’s most attention-grabbing is that this one clearly shares a lot of the identical DNA as Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon, however with extra shades of rye spice than caramel and corn-forward sweetness. To make sure, that is nonetheless a candy rye and one which bourbon drinkers will completely adore, nevertheless it’s that potential to please each crowds that makes this one so particular.
