Elijah Craig, Toasted Barrel Bourbon
The multi-award-winning Heaven Hill Distillery does some of its best work under the Elijah Craig name. The Toasted Barrel expression takes fully matured Elijah Craig bourbon and puts it back into heavily-toasted American oak casks for a second round of aging. The result is deeper oak and a hint of smoke. There's no peat, of course, but the heavy char on those barrels gives this a hint of lingering smoke that makes it perfect for warm summer nights.
Nose
Cinnamon, caramel, coconut, chocolate, dates
Palate
Oak spice, toffee, cacao nibs, prunes, smoke
Finish
Lingering smoke, dried fruit
This whiskey is immediately heady and shows what I love in this category: big, bold spices led by cinnamon icing, the richness of deep caramel, a whisper of coconut and chocolate, dried figs and Medjool dates, and an unmistakable woody character too. The palate delivers on the richness the nose promises, with waves of spice heat moving through cinder toffee, cacao nibs, and much more dried fruit: prunes and raisins, with a waft of smoke right on the back palate. It has a medium finish that is rounded, lightly sweet, and brings the smoke and fruit together beautifully.
Style
Details
Elijah Craig, Toasted Barrel Bourbon
Related Spirits
