🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch
The core version of Elijah Craig: a Kentucky straight bourbon from barrels aged 8–12 years, 47% ABV (94 proof); on the market since 1986.
Elijah Craig Small Batch is the core version of the Elijah Craig brand, a Kentucky straight bourbon from Heaven Hill. Its strength is 94 proof, or 47% ABV. According to Difford's Guide, the bourbon was launched in 1986 as a 12-year-old, and in January 2016 the age statement was removed.
According to Heaven Hill, the blend uses barrels aged 8 to 12 years. Difford's Guide gives the mash bill as 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley. The brand's website says the bourbon is aged in new oak barrels with a level 3 char, and the barrels for each batch are selected by hand.
Why this matters to you. The words “small batch” have no legal definition in the United States: it is the producer's own description. If you want the same bourbon without dilution, compare it with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof; Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is Small Batch with an extra toasted barrel. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe dose of alcohol.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 47% ABV (94 proof) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | corn 78%, rye 10%, malted barley 12% (Difford's Guide) |
| Cask type | new oak barrels with a level 3 char |
| Minimum maturation | no age statement since 2016; 8–12 years according to Heaven Hill |
| Year founded | 1986 |
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (US), Kentucky Straight Bourbon |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Barrel toasting
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Elijah Craig, 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic, 🥃 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, 🥃 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, 🥃 Elijah Craig Straight Rye, 🥃 Elijah Craig Straight Rye, 🥃 Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Elijah Craig Small Batch is a 12-year-old bourbon?
Not any more. According to Difford's Guide, the 12-year statement was dropped in January 2016; according to Heaven Hill, the blend uses barrels aged from 8 to 12 years.
What is the strength of Elijah Craig Small Batch?
94 proof, or 47% ABV.
What grain is it made from?
According to Difford's Guide, 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Barrel toasting — Heating the inside of a barrel over fire; the degree of toast shapes the wine's taste.
- 🥃 Maker's Mark Classic — The core Maker's Mark expression: Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 45% ABV (90 proof), wheated mash with no rye.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel · 🥃 Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel · 🥃 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof · 🥃 Elijah Craig Straight Rye · 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength · 🥃 Michter's US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon (47 %; 78 % corn, 10 % rye, 12 % malted barley; launched 1986 as 12 years old; age statement dropped 01.2016)
- Heaven Hill Distillery: Elijah Craig Small Batch (94 proof, 8 to 12 years)
- Elijah Craig: Small Batch (94 proof / 47 % alc/vol; Level 3 charred new oak barrels, hand-selected)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 Whisky — standards of identity (USA, TTB): bourbon, rye, straight; text via Cornell LII
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)