The Rickhouse Rant, Vol. 5 – Elijah Craig Small Batch: Age is Just a Number (Unless You’re a Bourbon)

Jun 12

Let’s talk about Elijah Craig Small Batch. A bourbon so solid, dependable, and satisfying that it’s almost easy to forget just how good it is. And that’s kind of the problem—almost.

Now before we go too far, yes, this bottle used to wear an age statement like a badge of honor. 12 glorious years, proudly proclaimed on the front label like a Kentucky diploma. But now? That number’s gone. Like my hairline. Like my social life. Like Blockbuster. Things change. Doesn’t mean they’re dead… just means you have to know where to look.

But back to the bottle in question.

Tasting Notes – What’s In The Glass?

Nose: Vanilla, toasted oak, a hint of baking spice, and a touch of orange peel.
Palate: Rich caramel and butterscotch up front, followed by cinnamon, nutmeg, and a little dark fruit in the background.
Finish: Long and warm with a gentle Kentucky hug—enough to let you know it’s 94 proof but not enough to call your ex.

Details You Can Sip On

MSRP: Around $30–$35 (depending on your store or your luck)
Proof: 94
Mash Bill: Heaven Hill’s traditional bourbon mash bill – 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye
Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky

The Bottle

Elijah Craig Small Batch looks like a premium pour. Deep amber color, thick in the glass, and a stately bottle that feels right in your hand. There’s no gimmicky label design or celebrity endorsement plastered on the side. Just clean, classic bourbon vibes.

Now About That History…

Oh, you mean the “Father of Bourbon” story?

Sure. Legend has it Elijah Craig was the first to char barrels, maybe even accidentally, after a fire scorched the insides of some oak barrels he used to age his whiskey. The outside? Unscathed. The inside? Toasted to perfection. And poof! Bourbon as we know it was born.

Let’s be real.

That story smells more like marketing than mash. It was cooked up in the 1950s by bourbon lobbyists trying to give American whiskey a Founding Father-style origin story. Because nothing sells like nostalgia and patriotism. But listen: Elijah Craig the man was real—a Baptist preacher and entrepreneur. The charred barrel origin story? Probably not. But who cares?

Call It What It Is

Elijah Craig Small Batch doesn’t need fairy tales. It doesn’t need folklore. What it does need is a little more respect.

It’s not trying to be fancy. It doesn’t scream “allocated.” You don’t have to sell a kidney or win an ABC lottery to find it. But this bottle is better than most things at twice the price. It punches way above its weight class.

Cocktail? Nailed it.

On ice? Absolutely.

Neat? The best way to enjoy it.

This is Heaven Hill doing what Heaven Hill does—crafting consistent, flavorful bourbon at a price that keeps the shelves from collecting dust.

So maybe it’s time to cut the mythmaking and lean into the reality: this is just a damn good bourbon. Full stop.

Final Thought

Heaven Hill, if you’re reading: bring back the age statement. Or don’t. Just don’t mess with what’s inside the bottle. And maybe brag a little more—it’s not bragging if it’s true.