New expression finished in custom toasted new oak barrels
adds sweet complexity to Elijah Craig
Straight Rye's unique spice
BARDSTOWN, Ky., July 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Elijah Craig, a leading family
of premium American Whiskeys, today announced the launch of Elijah
Craig Toasted Rye. In 1789, Elijah Craig was the first to char oak
barrels to make Bourbon, leading to him being credited as the
'Father of Bourbon'. The newest expression continues this tradition
of barrel innovation and as a result, adds complex layers of soft
and creamy milk chocolate to the characteristic spice notes of
Elijah Craig Straight Rye.
The process begins with fully matured Elijah Craig Straight Rye
Whiskey, which is dumped and then re-entered at barrel proof into a
second, custom toasted new oak barrel designed in partnership with
Independent Stave Company. The toast on these secondary barrels is
unique to Elijah Craig Toasted Rye. At the end of the toasting
process, a cap is placed on the barrel to quickly ramp up the heat
to an extremely high temperature allowing phenols to embed in the
surface of the barrel for an added element of smoke to complement
the spice and sweetness of the Rye. Unlike many other finished
whiskeys, this whiskey retains its status as a Kentucky Straight
Rye Whiskey because the second finishing barrel is both new and
charred.
Elijah Craig Toasted Rye leads with an aroma of toasted oak,
crème brûlée, almond and hazelnut. Notes of milk
chocolate and subtle baking spices fill the palate, while a creamy
mouthfeel begins to take shape. The finish is soft and warm with
lingering, drawn-out spices.
"From the moment our tasting panel tried Elijah Craig Toasted
Rye through our ongoing innovation process, we knew this expression
was going to be special," said Elijah Craig Group Product Director
Max Stefka. "The custom toasted
barrel from our partners at Independent Stave Company takes an
already world-class whiskey and adds in a dessert-like bouquet of
flavors."
Elijah Craig Toasted Rye is made as a traditional American
Straight Rye Whiskey with 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley.
This combination of grains, which relies heavily on corn as the
secondary grain rather than a higher percentage of rye, has been
the primary Rye mashbill used by Kentucky Bourbon distilleries
since taking over nearly all American Rye production
post-Prohibition. Allowing Elijah Craig
Rye to rest for a finishing period in the secondary barrel
adds the perfect amount of balance from the toast to the classic
rye spice.
Each bottle of Elijah Craig Toasted Rye Whiskey will
bear hints of softened dark green with the toasted rye
designation prominently featured at the top of the label and
decorated on the bottle. This highly allocated release will be
available nationally by late July at a suggested retail price
of $54.99. Elijah Craig Toasted Rye's
release comes four years after the launch of Elijah Craig Toasted
Barrel Bourbon, an offering also available at an SRP of
$54.99 for fans of the brand across
the country.
Elijah Craig has won numerous accolades for its various line
extensions. Most recently, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923, A124 and
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel received Double Platinum designation at
the 2024 ASCOT Awards. In 2023, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523 won
a gold medal from Bartender Spirits Awards and the World's Best
Small Batch Bourbon and Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon
at Whisky Magazine's 2023 World
Whiskies Awards. Whisky Advocate named Elijah Craig
Barrel Proof B517 its 2017 "Whisky of the Year".
ABOUT ELIJAH CRAIG
BOURBON: Known as "The Father of Bourbon," Elijah
Craig is credited with being the first distiller to age his wares
in charred oak barrels to make Bourbon. The clear, unaged corn
whiskey became transformed into a bold amber liquid with a
distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is today.
Elijah Craig's community impact continues through Elijah Craig
Old Fashioned Week, providing total donations of more than
$400,000 to date to organizations
supporting the hospitality industry. Produced by Heaven Hill
Distillery, the nation's largest independent, family-owned and led
distillery and the world's second-largest holder of Kentucky
Bourbon, the Elijah Craig lineup includes: Elijah Craig Small Batch
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Elijah Craig Straight Rye
Whiskey, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Whiskey, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Whiskey, and Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Kentucky
Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Elijah Craig's accolades have included
Whisky Advocate's Whisky of the Year, Best Small Batch Bourbon and
Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition,
and World's Best Small Batch Bourbon and Best Kentucky Small
Batch Bourbon at Whisky Magazine's 2023 World Whiskies Awards. For
more information, please
visit www.elijahcraig.com.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Kaitlynn West
Heaven Hill Distillery
(502) 413-0230
kwest@heavenhill.com
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SOURCE Heaven Hill Brands