Elijah Craig is a Kentucky straight bourbon produced by Heaven Hill distilleries (they also produce Bernheim Original among others). The Baptist minister Elijah Craig is credited for having invented the usage of new, charred casks for the maturation of bourbon whiskey.
This expression was bottled for The Nectar in Belgium.
Elijah Craig 12 yo (47%, OB ‘full barrel’ for The Nectar 2013, 94 Proof)
Elijah Craig 12 yo (47%, OB ‘full barrel’ for The Nectar 2013, 94 Proof)Nose: a medium dry nose with lots of sawdust and a typical rye note. Nicely balanced with sweeter corn and pastry notes. A little orange marmalade. Almonds and raisins. Quite a lot of mint as well.
Mouth: again on the dry side, lots of mint and eucalyptus at first (slightly medicinal hints even). A rye tingle again, with some leathery notes. Fresh, toasted oak. Vanilla and cinnamon, a little pepper too. Caramel and brown sugar, even a hint of coconut. Dried fruits and spiced honey.
Finish: long, with a corn sweetness and some orange flavours alongside the lingering spices.
I’m not an American whiskey expert, but for me this has elements of classic bourbon and rye whiskey. It shows a drier, more oaky and spicy kind of style. Good sipping whiskey for the price. Around € 45.
Score: 84/100