With the release of Elijah Craig’s new Toasted Rye, I was eager to taste this addition to their renowned Small Batch Rye line. As a longtime fan of Elijah Craig, I had high expectations—but unfortunately, this expression fell a bit short for me.
The whiskey has a rich, viscous mouthfeel, with delicate notes of caramel and spice emerging mid-palate. The toasted flavor arrives on the finish, but the shortness of that finish is surprising, especially considering the thick texture. While it’s certainly enjoyable, it lacks the wow factor I was hoping for.
However, when I tried it in an Old Fashioned, it was quite pleasant—just be sure to go light on the simple syrup and stick with Angostura bitters rather than orange bitters for the best balance.
We have an open bottle at the Cellars, and we’re offering one-ounce pours for just $5 if you’d like to experience it yourself. Enjoy!
