Elijah Craig Toasted Rye Review

Elijah Craig
Toasted Rye
Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
94 Proof
MSRP: $54.99
Review

Please enjoy our Elijah Craig Toasted Rye review!

“Our Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Toasted New Oak Barrels – Twice Barreled for Flavor“

Both Elijah Craig Straight Rye and their Toasted Bourbon were released in 2020. So, it only seemed logical, and a matter of time, until Heaven Hill Distillery released a toasted rye. Well, that time is now. Let’s see how Elijah Craig Toasted Rye turned out!

Secondary Finishes Are Best With Rye

In general, I feel that secondary finishes, especially ones that are sweeter and richer, have a much more symbiotic relationship with ryes than bourbons. The spice in rye provides the perfect compliment to the sweeter, richer flavors from the second finishing barrel. In contrast, bourbon already has a natural sweetness, and that may or may not combine well with other sweet barrel flavors. However, Elijah Craig Straight Rye is a “Kentucky” rye. That means that it has as close to the minimum amount of rye as possible, with much of the remainder of the mash bill being made up of corn. That gives Elijah Craig Rye less spice and more sweetness than some other rye styles, such as Pennsylvania ones. Nonetheless, given that Elijah Craig Straight Rye still has plenty of rye spices and tart citrus, a toasted barrel finish should still be quite complimentary.

A Unique Toasting Process

According to Heaven Hill “The [toasting] 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 nearly hour long 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.”

Tasting Notes – Elijah Craig Toasted Rye Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose: Vanilla, caramel, toffee, rye spices, dry oak, grapefruit, Demerara sugar & cherries; moderate alcohol vapor.
👉🏻Taste: Demerara sugar, rye spices, grapefruit, mild black pepper
👉🏻Finish: Growing black pepper spice, lingering sugar and toffee; mild barrel char; fairly long; pleasant warmth

The nose of Elijah Craig Toasted Rye has rich flavors from the finishing barrel, such as vanilla, caramel and toffee. However, there is also an interesting contrast from rye spices and tart grapefruit. After a few sips, cherries become more noticeable, and mild oak is in the background, too. The alcohol vapor is a bit more than I would have expected from the 94 proof. Presumably, the intensity of the vapor is being magnified by the rye spices and citrus.

The taste is a pleasant combination of Demerara sugar, rye spices, grapefruit and mild black pepper. Black pepper continues to grow in the finish, accompanied by residual sugar and toffee. Mild barrel char becomes more evident as time goes on. Finally, the finish is fairly long, with a pleasant warmth.

The Toasted Barrel Makes a Significant Difference

The specially toasted second barrel makes a noticeable difference in the flavors of Elijah Craig Toasted Rye when compared with the unfinished Elijah Craig Straight Rye. From the nose to the finish, the effects are evident. The nose is much more rich, and the finish less dry. The rye spices are still present, but are mellowed a bit, as is the tart citrus and sweet cherries that are more noticeable in the unfinished rye.

Conclusion

I am really enjoying Elijah Craig Toasted Rye. The effects of the specially toasted barrel are what I would have hoped they would be, creating a rich, yet still spicy, whiskey. If you are a fan of rye, but enjoy it on the sweeter side, with added confectionary flavors and a bit less “bite”, then you should definitely give this one a try! Have you tasted it? What did you think? Cheers!

We hope you have enjoyed our Elijah Craig Toasted Rye review! If you would like to read about some bourbons from this distillery, check out our Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon Review and our Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Review! To learn more about visiting Heaven Hill, read our Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Review!

Note: This bottle was graciously provided by the distillery for my review.

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