Our barrel picking team is at it again! This time around, due to Covid restrictions, we had the barrel samples brought to us. We were able to choose by committee, and coincidentally we all had the same favorite. I’m happy to present our Elijah Craig Barrel Proof PlumpJack Select! This 8 year, 132.8 proof Bourbon is robust, rich, and no shrinking violet. I know you will enjoy drinking it as much as we enjoyed picking it!
Cheers,
Sam Crocker, Spirits Buyer
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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | 66.4 % ABV | 8 years aged |
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Location: Louisville, KY Warehouse: Y Floor: 6 |
Most Bourbon drinkers are familiar with the name Heaven Hill. Even if you haven’t heard the name, you’ve likely tried one of their whiskies. Founded in Kentucky in 1935, they make a range of whiskies, including several under the name Elijah Craig. Still family-owned and operated, they now produce 1,300 barrels a day at Bernheim Distillery in downtown Louisville. The story of Elijah Craig begins before the founding of the United States. Born in 1738, he grew up in an area of the Virginia colony that is now part of the state of Kentucky. He went on to be a preacher, an educator, and an entrepreneur who built the first paper and wool mills in Georgetown, Kentucky. Most notably, he was a distiller and an innovator in the field of American Whiskey. In fact, he is often credited as the “father of Bourbon.” In 1789, Elijah Craig became the first distiller to age his whiskey in new charred oak barrels. Some claim that an accidental fire charred his barrels and changed the whiskey inside. Others say he stored his whiskey in former sugar barrels and was impressed with how charring improved the flavor. However it happened, Elijah Craig knew he had discovered something great. He continued to refine the barrel charring process, imparting smooth, rich flavor to the spirit that would become known as Bourbon. However, like many of his contemporaries, Elijah Craig owned slaves. Today, Heaven Hill has declared their commitment to uncovering the contribution of these enslaved people to the Bourbon industry. The brand is engaged in academic research and other initiatives to not only uncover the past, but to make America today a more just and equitable country. Today, all Bourbon produced under the Elijah Craig name consists of a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% barley. Three times a year, they release a Single Barrel, barrel-proof version of their flagship whiskey. These releases have become highly sought-after by Bourbon connoisseurs. Just recently, Heaven Hill began offering private selections of these single barrels. We at PlumpJack are fortunate to have selected one of the first of these exclusive barrels. Uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering, this is Bourbon in its purest form. |
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Price: $89 per bottle for club members |
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Proof: 132.8 |
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Aroma: brown sugar, vanilla, slight smokiness Taste: Opens with a burst of caramel sweetness, followed by wood spice and subtle notes of apricot Finish: Long and lingering with barrel char and lingering sweetness, reminiscent of sucking on an apricot pit |
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