Elijah Craig Small Batch 40% 700ml

Straightforward, Because It Can Be

There are bourbons you have to explain - and there are bourbons like this.

Elijah Craig Small Batch doesn't lean on rarity or proof to justify itself. It simply delivers the fundamentals with clarity: proper Kentucky mashbill, time in oak, and a finish that feels earned. Distilled and aged by Heaven Hill, it's built on the kind of process most distilleries talk about but few consistently follow.

This 700ml expression is bottled at 40% ABV, a gentler pour than the US version, but it hasn't lost its shape. What you get is a whiskey that holds its character without forcing the issue - toasted oak, brown sugar, and spice, all moving in time.

The nose offers up what Heaven Hill does best: soft caramel, vanilla cream, and dry oak, touched by orange oil and a trace of tobacco. It's warm and familiar, but not dull - the detail is in the integration.

The palate builds gently. Toffee and butterscotch upfront, followed by cinnamon, toasted pecan, and a measured layer of oak. There's fruit here, too - stewed apple, maybe a little poached pear - nothing showy, just enough to lift the mid-palate. It doesn't spike, doesn't sag. It moves steadily.

The finish is smooth and drying. Spice and wood take the lead, backed by leather, nutmeg, and a late return of burnt sugar. No sudden stop. Just a gradual step back.

This is a whiskey designed to work. It has the flexibility to carry a cocktail - especially an Old Fashioned or Boulevardier - but it drinks perfectly well on its own. No dilution needed. No justification required.

What makes Elijah Craig Small Batch stand out is how little it tries to. It's made with purpose, not posture. You don't have to be told it's heritage - you can taste it in the balance, the weight, and the way it finishes.

For anyone who still believes that the core range matters more than the limited release - this is a bottle worth paying attention to.

Tasting Profile