Experience the elegance of long-aged bourbon with Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel, a rare and celebrated expression of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. Aged for nearly two decades in a single charred oak barrel, this limited edition release showcases the craftsmanship and heritage of Heaven Hill Distillery.

Each bottle comes from an individual barrel hand-selected for its extraordinary depth and complexity. Bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof), Elijah Craig 18 offers a remarkably smooth and layered profile, featuring notes of toasted oak, caramel, vanilla, and rich dark fruits, balanced by subtle spice and a dry, warming finish.

This prestigious bourbon is a collector’s gem and a connoisseur’s delight, consistently praised for its structure, character, and lingering elegance.

Key Features:

• Aged 18 years in a single barrel

• Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey

• Bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof)

• Rich, oak-forward profile with sweet and spicy undertones

• Limited releaseeach bottle is hand-labeled with barrel and bottling details

• Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Aged oak, leather, vanilla, toffee, cinnamon

• Palate: Caramel, dark cherry, brown sugar, black pepper, tobacco

• Finish: Long and dry with lingering oak spice and dark chocolate

How to Enjoy:
Sip neat to fully appreciate its complex and mature character. A few drops of water may enhance subtle notes. Perfect for celebratory pours, gifting, or as a crown jewel in any bourbon collection.

FAQ:
Q: Is Elijah Craig 18 a small batch or single barrel bourbon?
A: It is a single-barrel release, meaning each bottle is drawn from one unique barrel, offering a distinct and unblended flavor profile.

Q: Is this bourbon available year-round?
A: No, its released in limited quantities annually, making it highly collectible and sometimes difficult to find.

Q: Does aging for 18 years make it overly oaky?
A: Not at allwhile oak is prominent, the whiskey remains beautifully balanced with sweet, spicy, and fruity notes.

18 years. Single Barrel. Elijah Craig the ultra-aged single barrel expression from Heaven Hill, presenting 18 years of maturation in new American white oak at a single barrels natural proof the deepest age statement in the standard Elijah Craig lineup and among the oldest ongoing single barrel expressions from any major Kentucky distillery.

Elijah Craig is named for the Reverend Elijah Craig, the 18th-century Baptist minister credited by Kentucky tradition with the invention of bourbon whiskey in 1789. Heaven Hills Elijah Craig brand spans from the entry-level Small Batch through Barrel Proof to this the 18 Year Single Barrel which represents the apex of age-stated Elijah Craig production.

At 18 years in Kentuckys climate, the bourbon has experienced decades of dramatic seasonal temperature cycling summer expansion into the wood drawing out caramel and vanilla, winter contraction pulling the enriched spirit back into the center producing deep leather, dried fruit, and oak complexity that shorter maturation cannot approach. Each barrel is bottled individually at its natural proof, meaning no two bottles are identical.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel
• Age: 18 years
• Bottling: Natural barrel proof, single barrel
• Size: 750ml

Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is 18-year Kentucky bourbon so rare? Kentuckys extreme seasonal temperatures cause high evaporative loss (angels share) typically 34% per year. At 18 years, a significant portion of each barrel has evaporated, meaning fewer bottles per barrel and substantially higher per-bottle cost. Most distilleries cant afford to hold stock this long without exceptional demand.
• How does the 18 Year compare to the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof? Barrel Proof is released three times annually at various ages (typically 912 years) and cask strengths. The 18 Year Single Barrel is a consistently older expression at a single barrels natural proof, representing six or more additional years of maturation beyond the typical Barrel Proof age range.

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