Elijah Craig 21 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

21 years. Single barrel. Elijah Craig's ultra-aged expression from Heaven Hill — the high-rye mashbill at 21 years, producing a perfectly balanced bourbon where power and elegance coexist through two decades of Kentucky aging.

Heaven Hill's Elijah Craig 21 Year sits between the 18 Year and the 23 Year in the distillery's age-statement single barrel range. At 21 years, the bourbon has achieved the full integration of grain, barrel, and time without the risk of over-oaking that pushes the 23 Year to the very edge of the aging window. The 21 Year is arguably the sweet spot: old enough for profound complexity, young enough to retain the grain's identity alongside the oak's contribution.

Heaven Hill's high-rye mashbill (75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley) produces a naturally assertive, spicy distillate that responds well to extended aging. The rye grain's spice character doesn't disappear over two decades — it integrates into the oak structure, producing a more complex and nuanced spice alongside the caramel and vanilla of long-matured bourbon.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep mahogany amber from 21 years of new charred oak contact.
• Nose: Perfectly balanced — caramel, vanilla, and aged oak layered with the rye spice and dried fruit that 21-year maturation produces.
• Palate: Complex and lingering — deep oak integration, warm spice, leather, and a sweetness that balances the extended maturation without over-oaking.
• Finish: Smooth and long — the 21-year hallmark of a finish that satisfies completely.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill Bernheim Distillery, Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel
• Age: 21 years
• Size: 750ml

Browse all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the 21 Year compare to the 18 and 23 Year? The 18 Year shows deep maturity and complexity. The 23 Year pushes to the outer edge of Kentucky aging with maximum oak integration. The 21 Year sits between them — more complex and oak-integrated than the 18 Year, with more grain identity remaining than the 23 Year. Many consider it the sweet spot in the range.
• Is the 21 Year a recent release? Elijah Craig's ultra-aged expressions (18, 20, 21, 23 Year) are released in limited quantities as specific barrels reach peak maturity. The 21 Year is not a permanent annual release — it is released when exceptional 21-year barrels are available.
• Is the 21 Year still available? 1 unit in current stock.