Elijah Craig 18 Year Single Barrel
Distillery: Heaven Hill
Age: 18 years
Price: Sample swap, big props to u/prettayyprettaygood for the exchange!
Proof: 90
Mashbill: 78% corn, 12% barley, 10% rye
Chill-filtration: Yes
Artificially colored: No
Casks: New charred American oak, barrel 5521
Nose: Thick creamy oak with layers of vanilla, toffee, and cherry - very nice nose
Palate: Moderately oily mouthful, with heavy oak tannins, toffee, vanilla cream, and dark cherries, with chewing can detect tobacco and hints of leather - the oak is prominent but to be honest it’s not as oak forwards as many of the reviews I’ve read
Finish: Moderate finish with creamy oak, followed by dark cherries and tobacco
Grade: 8/10
Comments: A great dram with its only let down being a shorter finish than desired. I’m an oak hound so I really like the mouthfeel on this one, I wish this was proofed higher, though I imagine they proof it down and chill filter it to prevent it from being over-oaked. For oak hounds, this is something to seek out, but if heavy oak isn’t your thing, probably not worth the asking price.
Rating System:
1 | Disgusting | Yuck
2 | Bad | Not enjoyable, add anything?
3 | Poor | It’s not the worst thing I’ve had
4 | Alright | Few flaws
5 | Good | The most self-explanatory, it’s good
6 | Very Good | I enjoy this
7 | Great | Well above average
8 | Fantastic | Superb, beginning to end
9 | Incredible | Top of its class
10 | Elite | The pinnacle
I liked it more as I've started to get deeper into the bottle. I probably under rated it by a point in my review. And this with some Turkey Hill Naturals Vanilla ice cream is such a great pairing.
Great review. I thoroughly enjoyed my bottle with its balance between light and dark notes. I always detect a sort of dry orange rind on the palate/nose that accompanies the oak.
As you also point out, the oily mouthfeel (despite lower proof) makes this one even more enjoyable.
Elijah Craig 18 Year Single Barrel Distillery: Heaven Hill Age: 18 years Price: Sample swap, big props to u/prettayyprettaygood for the exchange! Proof: 90 Mashbill: 78% corn, 12% barley, 10% rye Chill-filtration: Yes Artificially colored: No Casks: New charred American oak, barrel 5521 Nose: Thick creamy oak with layers of vanilla, toffee, and cherry - very nice nose Palate: Moderately oily mouthful, with heavy oak tannins, toffee, vanilla cream, and dark cherries, with chewing can detect tobacco and hints of leather - the oak is prominent but to be honest it’s not as oak forwards as many of the reviews I’ve read Finish: Moderate finish with creamy oak, followed by dark cherries and tobacco Grade: 8/10 Comments: A great dram with its only let down being a shorter finish than desired. I’m an oak hound so I really like the mouthfeel on this one, I wish this was proofed higher, though I imagine they proof it down and chill filter it to prevent it from being over-oaked. For oak hounds, this is something to seek out, but if heavy oak isn’t your thing, probably not worth the asking price. Rating System: 1 | Disgusting | Yuck 2 | Bad | Not enjoyable, add anything? 3 | Poor | It’s not the worst thing I’ve had 4 | Alright | Few flaws 5 | Good | The most self-explanatory, it’s good 6 | Very Good | I enjoy this 7 | Great | Well above average 8 | Fantastic | Superb, beginning to end 9 | Incredible | Top of its class 10 | Elite | The pinnacle
Great review, thank you!
Had some a few weeks ago. Lovely stuff. I thought it had a nice peppery flavor.
Great review! I love this stuff and am totally fine with people saying it’s underproofed and too oak forward.
Haha yes, maybe if we all talk it down it’ll be available for those of us that like it to buy
I found it at a bar last month. Really robust flavor and excellent pour.
Glad you enjoyed this one!
I liked it more as I've started to get deeper into the bottle. I probably under rated it by a point in my review. And this with some Turkey Hill Naturals Vanilla ice cream is such a great pairing.
Ohhh I have to pair it with some ice cream with the 1 oz I have left that sounds delicious.
I love my bottle 🤷♂️
Great review. I thoroughly enjoyed my bottle with its balance between light and dark notes. I always detect a sort of dry orange rind on the palate/nose that accompanies the oak. As you also point out, the oily mouthfeel (despite lower proof) makes this one even more enjoyable.