Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.
Preacher and businessman Elijah Craig lived an interesting life full of firsts. He was a religious leader influential in the founding of America, opened the first classical school in Kentucky, oversaw the first fulling mill, paper mill, and ropewalk in Kentucky, and even served as a fire chief. He’s also the father of bourbon, as his distillery was the first to use the charred-oak barrels that give bourbon its identity.
Well, he’s at least rumored to be.
Unlike his other, well-documented contributions, the evidence that Craig was the first to use charred oak simply isn’t there. Legend states that a fire burned Craig’s staves and he chose to simply use them rather than go through the expense of replacing them. Bourbon historian Mike Veach, however, notes that there’s no real evidence of this and the first references to charring oak weren’t until 1830. As he told Imbibe magazine: “If Craig created bourbon [in the 1790s] why did it take 30 years for somebody to start writing about charring barrels?”
Still, the apocryphal story of a man going from revolutionary preacher to business tycoon and then accidentally inventing an iconic spirit is charming. It has the kind of twists, turns, and personality that would be good for a Thanksgiving anecdote or episode of Drunk History. Today’s expression, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, would also make for a great episode of Drunk History as it packs a mighty 133 proof.
That is to say, this bottling packs a 133 proof. This is batch C923, meaning the third batch of the year, released September 2023. Expressions have varied in age and intensity, and this batch represents the high end for both at 133 proof and 13 years, 7 months of age. While the 1789 embossed in the glass bottle alludes to a charming legend, these are the numbers that are a lot more likely to catch my eye.
Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923
Vital Stats: 66.5:% ABV; Mash bill: 78% Corn, 12% Rye, 10% Malted Barley; 133 Proof.
Appearance: Mahogany
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Nose: The nose opens with a rich, molasses sweetness. As it swirls a bit, I can pick out the concentrated vanilla and hints of stewed strawberry. All these scents are carried on the woody base of a deeply aged, high proof bourbon.
Palate: You can only hold this a second before you remember you’re drinking 133 proof bourbon. The burn sets on fast and sets on hard. The hard burn and focused bourbon sweetness feel like sipping molten caramel, with only bare hints of red fruit. If I add a few drops of water, the sweetness loses some fire and takes on a woody body and gives a feel of bittersweet chocolate. In either case, the finish is a woody, alcohol forward slow burn.
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