Elijah Craig

Interesting...

How did Elijah Craig become credited with pioneering the charring of the oak barrels used to age Bourbon? We’re actually not totally sure. A lot of the history is lost, and there are several versions of the story. One account tells of an accidental fire in Elijah’s mill, which charred the wooden barrels and changed the whiskey inside. Makes for a great story at your next Bourbon tasting, doesn’t it? Other accounts speak of Elijah storing his wares in former sugar barrels, and becoming impressed with how the charring of the barrels improved the flavor.

The truth is, no one really knows how Elijah began charring his barrels, but once he figured it out, it’s easy to understand why he continued to develop the process and changed Bourbon making forever. Inside, the clear, unaged corn liquor becomes transformed into a bold amber liquid, with a distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is.

However it happened, Elijah Craig is credited with being the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels. That’s an essential and rich part of the Bourbon story, and we’re proud to embrace that history.