Despite my fierce allegiance to Maker's Mark, earlier this week I decided it's time to branch out and at least try other sorts of bourbon. I've had to make do from time to time, mostly at airports, with Wild Turkey, but there are other makers of small batch Kentucky bourbon out there. Elijah Craig is one of them. To be honest, the local state liquor store wasn't overflowing with options. They had Jack Daniels, which I loathe, Wild Turkey, Knob Creek, which I've had, but don't remember as distinctive, and Elijah Craig 12-year-old. I was intrigued by the fact that the bottle describes Elijah Craig as "small batch premium bourbon," since one of the more notable differences in Marker's Mark is that it's small batch bourbon. The bottle further notes that Elijah Craig is "bottled exclusively from a dumping of 70 barrels or less."

The name is a bit of a misnomer; Craig had nothing to do with the distillery or the bourbon. The eighteenth century Kentucky Baptist clergyman and distiller is generally credited with being the one to come up with the idea of aging his bourbon in charred oak casks. It's the aging in charred oak that gives bourbon its traditional reddish color, and plays an important part in the taste of the aged bourbon. By law, now, Kentucky bourbon must consist of at least 51% corn and be aged at least two years in a new charred white oak barrel. Elijah Craig exists in both the 12 year old bourbon I was tempted by, and an 18 year old variety, the oldest Kentucky Bourbon you can buy.

The label identifies the bourbon as a product of Heaven Hills Distillers, Inc. Horse Hills also makes a variety of other bourbons, including Evan Williams and Henry McKenna bourbons. The distillers are Parker and Craig Beam, the sixth and seventh generations the Beam bourbon-making family. Heaven Hills includes a vast array of brands, and a wide variety of spirits, including Christian Brothers Brandies, Cluny Scotch, and a wide variety of liquors, cordials, vodkas, and fortified wines.

In a glass, Elijah Craig is darker in color than some bourbons, but it has that distinctive sweet-sour scent, with a hint of something citrus, or vanilla. You can definitely taste the rye, but it's not overwhelming. It's a smooth sweet finish with distinct hints of caramel. I'm not one to mix bourbon, but I noted that one aficionado recommends Elijah Craig on the rocks with two shakes of bitters, and a splash of Grand Marnier. That sounds more than a little tempting.

I'm not the the only bourbon fan to look upon Elijah Craig favorably; it won Whisky Magazine's "Best of the Best Bourbon" contest in 2001 and won a Double Gold Medal at the 200 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. I'm not switching from Maker's, but I'll definitely buy Elijah Craig again, and I'm going to watch for the 18 year old version.