Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey Elijah Craig 12 years tasting notes and review
The Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey Elijah Craig 12 years is a spicy distillate, strong and very powerful, do not expect a subtle drink, but intensity and creaminess, yes, you can find plenty of them.
We are talking about a classic Bourbon whiskey full of vanilla and spices, baked fruit suggestions, honey and caramel and, of course, the classic toasted notes that take on the profile of every possible walnut, peanut, almond and macadamia nuts.
It is produced by the Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc in honor of the legendary Reverend Elijah Craig, to whom the birth of the American bourbon has historically been attributed. In short, the good shepherd was a skilled distiller, but one night a fire broke out in his warehouse and so his precious oak barrels got burned and thus he had the brilliant idea of using them to age his whiskey.
Aside from the story, this whiskey is very different from the one produced in the past, it is full and alcoholic, but aromatically it is precise, clean, spontaneous, well balanced in its spicy and caramelized profile.
It is produced in small batches of 100 barrels at a time, to have total control of production and although many have criticized this change it is not bad at all. Let’s say it’s the entry-level product of the distillery, so don’t expect the fireworks.
The bouquet of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Elijah Craig 12 years
The nose, despite being slightly static, stylized, and too wood-centric, is intriguing with a nice baked fruit that oscillates between the caramel dip, the candy and the apple pie. All surrounded by a dried fruit cornucopia. Spices are sweet and massive with vanilla, cinnamon, and others more pungent like anise and coffee. Overall it is well done, with no frills. Super long and finish of candied orange peel.
What does Kentucky straight Bourbon whiskey Elijah Craig 12 years taste like?
Powerful mouth, cut with an axe by a beefy lumberjack who eats bacon and 12 scrambled eggs for breakfast. The alcohol burns and anesthetizes, but after a while, a grasp of freshness arrives, the spices open up, the caramel and baked apples come out, the nuts peep out with a tannic roughness.
If you are a tough bourbon whiskey lover you can drink it neat, but unless you have a fire-proof palate, a drop of water works wonders. Indeed it makes it burst like a rose, the caramel tones come out and it acquires much more balance.
Bourbon is often thought of as a tough, but smooth spirit, but this Elijah Craig 12 hits hard and then caresses you with a good dose of sweetness.
The cost of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Elijah Craig 12 years
45-50 euros, if you are a bourbon lover it is an honest price, otherwise, if you are a casual drinker it’s not a great investment.
Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey Elijah Craig 12 years food pairings
Apple pie, tiramisu, rabbit terrine, smoked ribs.
Cocktail to make
Boulevardier, Old Fashioned, Irish Coffee, Mint Julep, Sazerac, Godfather, Rusty Nail, Rob Roy, Old Pal, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Toronto, Penicillin.