About Elijah Craig

Reverend Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher, an educator, and an entrepreneur who built the first paper and wool mills in Georgetown, Kentucky. It was his gift as a distiller that brought him his greatest acclaim.

In 1789, Elijah Craig became the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak casks. 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 happed, 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. 250 years later, Elijah Craig is still known as the Father of Bourbon.

Today, the Master Distillers remain committed to honoring Elijah’s innovative spirit. Every Bourbon is crafted from four essential elements: Grain, water, fire, and time. But it takes expertise and ingenuity to transform them into unique and award-winning whiskeys.