Heaven Hill Distillery
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey · NAS (blend of 8-12 year barrels)
Heaven Hill's workhorse bourbon proves that under $30, there's still a world of genuine quality. Steady, reliable, and criminally underrated.
Rating Breakdown
Flavor Profile
Tasting Journey
Nose
Buttery brown sugar caramel, vanilla bean, oak, peaches, apricots, orange zest, toffee, buried mint
Palate
Smooth and velvety, wood spice, nutmeg, cinnamon toast, marzipan, peanuts, caramel, oak, pleasant backbone
Finish
Length: Medium-LongModerate to long with toasted oak, white pepper, honey, brown sugar, slowly fading cinnamon
Specs
Price / Value
MSRP: $28
Your Rating
Click to rate
Our Score: 84/100
Pairings
Food
- Toasted pecans
- apple crumble
- smoked turkey
- aged Swiss cheese
- cinnamon rolls
Cocktails
- Old Fashioned
- Whiskey Sour
- Bourbon and Ginger
- Gold Rush
Our Verdict
Elijah Craig Small Batch is the quiet giant of the bourbon shelf—consistently excellent, perpetually available, and priced as if the people at Heaven Hill don't realize how good it is. An essential bottle for every collection.
The bourbon world mourned when Elijah Craig dropped its 12-year age statement in 2016, transforming from a specific promise into an NAS mystery. But here's the thing the eulogists missed: the bourbon in the bottle didn't dramatically change. Elijah Craig Small Batch continues to blend 8-12 year barrels into one of the most consistent, satisfying bourbons available at any price, let alone under $30.
The nose opens with buttery brown sugar caramel—Heaven Hill's calling card—supported by vanilla bean, oak, and soft stone fruit. Peaches and apricots add a gentle fruity dimension, with orange zest and toffee providing brightness. There's a mint note buried deep that only reveals itself after the bourbon opens up in the glass. Patient nosing is rewarded handsomely.
On the palate, Elijah Craig delivers a smooth, velvety experience that belies its modest price. Wood spice and nutmeg lead, followed by cinnamon toast, marzipan, and peanut notes that betray the Heaven Hill DNA. Caramel and oak provide structure, while the 94 proof offers just enough backbone to keep things interesting without demanding your full attention. This is a bourbon that's equally comfortable as a Tuesday night pour or a Saturday afternoon session.
The finish is moderate to long, with toasted oak, white pepper, honey, and brown sugar creating a warm, pleasant close. There's a cinnamon note that fades slowly, like the last ember of a campfire—comfortable, familiar, and deeply satisfying.
The inevitable comparison to Buffalo Trace is fair: both occupy the same price tier and target the same audience. Elijah Craig runs oakier and nuttier; Buffalo Trace plays sweeter and fruitier. Both are excellent, but Elijah Craig tends to be significantly easier to find on shelves—a practical advantage that shouldn't be underestimated in the allocation era.
At $28, Elijah Craig Small Batch is the bourbon that every shelf needs and every wallet appreciates. It's the kind of bottle that makes you realize the best bourbon doesn't always come with the highest price tag.
