Elijah Craig Bourbon setting standards for America's Native Spirit

Bourbon has been declared ‘American’s Native Spirit’ by a 1964 Act of Congress. With or without law pushing the spirit through, Bourbon has always been the driving force or core of Heaven Hill Distilleries nestled in the heart of ‘Bourbon Country’. In fact Heaven Hill Distilleries was initially established as a Bourbon Distiller in 1934. Though their holdings have grown beyond just bourbon, Heaven Hill still boasts the world’s second largest aged Kentucky Bourbon inventory.

 

Evan Williams and Rev. Elijah Craig pioneered some of the Bourbon techniques that have gone on to become minimums and standards by law within the entire Bourbon industry. Most consumers have heard, ‘all bourbons are whiskey, but not all whiskies are bourbon.’   It isn’t just the county Bourbon hails from that makes the whiskey bourbon. Bourbon must be comprised of at least 51% corn and aged a minimum of two years in new charred white oak barrels. Nothing may be added to enhance flavor, color or sweetness. Though it just doesn’t seem right to have Bourbon from anywhere other than Bourbon County, Bourbon may technically come from anywhere in the United States. However Kentucky is the only state allowed to place their name on the bottle. (www.straightbourbon.com) For those of you who want to know the difference between Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and Bourbon, the answer is in the link above, too.

 

Elijah Craig 12 Year Old is a leading favorite Bourbon among many. This exclusive bottling pulls from a combination of approximately 70 barrels from the middle to upper floors of the rickhouse to achieve the precise flavor profile.   The photo slideshow below profiles Elijah Craig 12 Year Old through the palate of leading whiskey experts in the field. It is interesting to note the wide range of flavors individuals arrive at uniquely. Since everyone tastes flavors in their own way it would be most interesting to learn your thoughts on Elijah Craig 12 Year Old as well. Please email The Intoxicologist or comment below. 

 

 

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www.discus.org – Distilled Spirits Council of the United States