Elijah Craig Expands Into Straight Rye Whiskey Territory

The Elijah Craig brand has long been a popular bourbon label owned by Heaven Hill. It was first brought to market in 1986 and enjoys success today across a number of products including the Barrel Proof and Single Barrel variants. It is now being expanded to another American whiskey category, rye whiskey, with the unveiling of Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey.

The new Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey, according to those behind it, is made as a traditional American straight rye whiskey with a mash bill of 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley. No specific age statement is given, but the distillery does indicate that “extra-aging is a tenet of the Elijah Craig portfolio, and Elijah Craig Rye is no exception.”

“Elijah Craig was a larger-than-life innovator and the new Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey celebrates his bold reputation,” said Heaven Hill Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll in a prepared statement. “Heaven Hill Distillery has the privilege within its vast inventory and distilling expertise to create American Whiskeys consumers desire.

“Elijah Craig Rye celebrates the heritage of Rye Whiskey in Kentucky and adds another quality option to an award-winning lineup of specially crafted whiskeys.”

The whiskey will come packaged “in the iconic Elijah Craig bottle” and is “distinguished by new bottle decoration, face, side and neck labels with green features.” It is set to price around $30 for a 750 ml bottle when it launches in limited markets at the beginning of 2020, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Oregon.

Limited official tasting notes suggest “a spicy sharpness from the rye balanced with sweetness from the corn.”