Elijah Craig Single Barrel Bourbon Review

Elijah Craig Single Barrel Bourbon
18 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
90 Proof (45% ABV)
Typical Price: About $40 for 750ml - Buy it at Internet Wines & Spirits

We had already developed our opinion of Elijah Craig when we tried his 12 year old Bourbon, so when we drank the 18 year old we expected it to be half again as good. The 18 year old is another single barrel whiskey like the Evan Williams 1996 we tried, but even our first whiff told us it had a very different character. So how did Elijah's older offspring measure up?

The Color: Wait For It...
Yes, like all the other Bourbons we've reviewed thus far, Elijah Craig is brown.

The Nose: Sweet And Nutty
We smelled caramel and nuts, sweet and appealing. Sweet and nutty...that makes it the Rose Nylund of Bourbons. Wait, is that the second Golden Girls joke we've made during Whiskey Week? It might be time to detox.

The Taste: A Hot 18 Year Old
There are quite a few flavors running through this one, vanilla and wood and honey and smoke among them. The honey is the most assertive, matched only by the smoke. In fact, this is an interesting one - it's very smoky, and where there's smoke there's fire. We liked the charred taste, and we also liked the throaty burn we could feel when the rye reared its head. It was viscous and oily, and you can expect the finish to hang around for a while even after you swallow it.

The Recipes: Don't You Dare
Seriously - don't mix this one. It's great straight, so don't bother with even water or ice. Seems like this would be a great Bourbon to go along with a cigar, but we didn't have any stogies around the office.

The Verdict: A Great Drink For Special Occasions
This one's complex and exciting, but it might be a bit much for people who don't drink a lot of Bourbon. It's definitely five-star stuff, but not one you'll want to use to bring someone into the fold. If you're an enthusiast and you haven't tried it yet, however, give it a shot and let us know what you think. We were quite pleased, and it's on our list for special occasions and gifts for bosses.

The Site: Learn more and see more reviews about Elijah Craig Single Barrel at the Bardstown Bourbon Society.

Read More in: Reviews | Whiskey

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Posted by Liquor Snob at March 5, 2006 2:28 PM

Myself and a friend of mine used to always sit back every friday and smoke a cigar and sip on some elijah craig. The 12 year old distilled bourbon was ussually our choice of flavor. I have yet to try the single barrel and greatly look foward to it. Many people don't even know who elijah craig was and i didn't even realize it until i researched it this evening. No wonder its one of the best bourbons i've ever had.... It was the first! I enjoy the smoothness and the spice at the end doesn't let you forget that the alcohol is present. I suggest any bourbon drinker to try this brand of bourbon and maybe you can help me find a single barrel elijah craig. I'm living in Germany now and the 12 year is all I can find.

Posted by: Bobby at January 1, 2007 7:45 AM

Are you kidding me???? This stuff is good? I've been a bourbon drinker for years...neat or on the rocks...Knob Creek is my bourbon of choice. The Elijah Craig 18 year-old is awful. It is musty and weak. The first thought that came to mind was "what is this stuff??? It tastes like bourbon flavored Scotch". My drinking buddy...a fan of Woodford's Reserve said, "I never thought I'd find a bourbon I didn't like...Elijah Craig 18 year-old has dispelled that!!!" Maybe it was the batch in barrel #2148. But the best thing I think to do with the remaining bourbon is use it for a fire starter when I set the remains of my boat ablaze.

Posted by: Mike Haskell at May 3, 2008 6:50 PM

I was suprised to find such an aged, single barrel bourbon for under $50, and especially for under$40, with such remarkable character. Is this an undiscovered secret?

Posted by: Greg Young at June 12, 2006 5:47 PM

I've been "milking" a bottle of this 18 yr old for almost a year now. Bought it for myself for my birthday last year. It is quite something else. Something I only sample every once in awhile. At first, I didn't think it was better than the 12 yr old, which I just love. It is a quite complex bunch of flavors. Gotta try if you can. I rate it the best "Premium" whiskey I own. Especially for only $40 a bottle. Better than the 12 yr old Jameson I bought ($38).

Posted by: Richard at May 1, 2008 7:02 PM

This is my favorite bourbon to go with a good cigar. There are times for Woodford and other brands but after dinner with a good cigar there is nothing like Elijah Craig 18 yr neat!!

Posted by: Greg at June 12, 2008 3:59 PM