Elijah Craig 20 Year 750ML is a discontinued single barrel Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced by Heaven Hill and aged two decades in charred oak casks. Barrel #3735 of this expression was named American Whiskey of the Year by Whisky Advocate in 2011, with editor John Hansell calling it "seamless, richly textured and impeccably balanced." Only around 1,300 bottles were released in 2012, making surviving bottles exceptionally scarce on the secondary market.Quick Facts: ABV: 45% (90 Proof) | Origin: Kentucky, USA | Age: 20 Years | Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim | Type: Single BarrelProduction & HeritageHeaven Hill Distillery, headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky, operates the Bernheim distillery in Louisville where this bourbon was produced. The mashbill is the classic Elijah Craig recipe — 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley — distilled and filled into new charred American oak barrels, then left to mature for a full 20 years. Released in fall 2011 to honor the 20th anniversary of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, the 20 Year represented one of the longest-aged expressions Heaven Hill had offered at that time. Only a handful of barrels survived that extended aging period, and by 2013, the 20 Year was replaced in the lineup by the Elijah Craig 21 Year Old Single Barrel.Tasting NotesAroma: The nose opens with deep vanilla and old polished wood furniture, followed by layers of tobacco leaf and a subtle anisette sweetness. Extended time in the glass reveals the kind of oak complexity that only two decades of barrel interaction can produce.Taste: The palate arrives rich and coating, with crème brûlée and orange blossom honey leading into the mid-palate. Vanilla extract, hazelnut truffle, and maple syrup develop in succession, creating remarkable density without becoming tannic or overly woody — a testament to careful barrel selection.Finish: The finish is long and layered, beginning with a mix of black and white pepper alongside pipe tobacco and cinnamon. It resolves into a slow, elegant oak denouement that lingers well after the final sip.How to Drink Elijah Craig 20 YearThis bourbon merits neat service first and foremost — a few minutes of rest in the glass at room temperature allows the full spectrum of aged oak character to emerge. A single drop of water can further open the nose without diminishing the palate's density. Given its rarity, mixing is uncommon, but if poured into cocktails: an Old Fashioned would highlight the crème brûlée and vanilla sweetness against bitters; a Boulevardier would complement the tobacco and spice notes with Campari's bitter edge; and a Mint Julep would showcase the honey and maple character against fresh mint.Best For Collectors seeking discontinued Heaven Hill single barrel releases Celebrating a major milestone such as a 20th anniversary Gifting a serious bourbon enthusiast with a rare bottle Side-by-side tasting comparisons against other ultra-aged Kentucky bourbons Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Elijah Craig 20 Year taste like? It delivers a rich, dessert-like profile dominated by crème brûlée, orange blossom honey, hazelnut truffle, and maple syrup, followed by a peppery, tobacco-laced finish with slow-building oak. Despite 20 years in barrel, it avoids the excessive tannin that can plague over-aged bourbon.How does Elijah Craig 20 Year compare to Elijah Craig 21 Year? The 21 Year Old Single Barrel directly replaced the 20 Year in 2013 and shares the same 78/10/12 mashbill with one additional year of aging. Both are single barrel, 90-proof expressions, though individual barrel variation means each release carries its own distinct character.Is Elijah Craig 20 Year good for sipping neat? It is ideal for neat sipping, as the two decades of maturation produce a complex, layered bourbon that rewards slow, deliberate tasting. A small amount of water may further open the aromatics without diluting the richness.Where is Elijah Craig 20 Year made? It was produced at the Heaven Hill Bernheim distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, with the company headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky. Heaven Hill is one of the largest family-owned and operated spirits producers in the United States.What foods pair well with Elijah Craig 20 Year? Dark chocolate truffles complement the hazelnut and vanilla notes; pecan pie echoes the maple and caramel sweetness; smoked brisket matches the tobacco and oak tones; aged cheddar contrasts the honey and spice; and crème brûlée mirrors the bourbon's own dessert-forward character.What sizes does Elijah Craig 20 Year come in? The 20 Year was released exclusively in 750ml bottles as a limited single barrel offering, and no other sizes were produced before the expression was discontinued.Is Elijah Craig 20 Year worth the price? As a discontinued release limited to roughly 1,300 bottles and carrying a Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year accolade, it positions firmly in the ultra-premium collector tier. Secondary market pricing reflects its scarcity rather than its original retail value, making it a bottle purchased as much for provenance as for drinking.Why Elijah Craig 20 Year?The 2011 American Whiskey of the Year designation from Whisky Advocate remains the single strongest credential attached to this release — an honor earned against the full field of American whiskey in that vintage. With only around 1,300 bottles produced and the expression permanently discontinued in favor of the 21 Year Old, surviving bottles represent a fixed and diminishing supply. The combination of Heaven Hill's proven mashbill, 20 years of charred oak maturation, and single barrel bottling places it among the most concentrated expressions the Elijah Craig brand has ever released. For collectors and serious bourbon drinkers, it stands as a tangible artifact of a specific moment in Kentucky bourbon history.
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