We’ve teamed up with Elijah Craig to offer you the chance to win a bottle of its brand-new Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The latest addition to the award-winning Elijah Craig line-up, it takes the familiar Small Batch profile and deepens it with a second hit of sweet-oak indulgence.
Fully matured Elijah Craig Small Batch is reracked – still at barrel proof – into a bespoke toasted new oak barrel crafted with the Independent Stave Company. These finishing barrels are made from 18-month air-dried oak, given a full toast, then flash-charred to a precise specification: a moderate temperature and measured timing designed to coax out maximum nuance.
“It was a pleasure collaborating with the Independent Stave Company to create a custom toast profile and char level designed to best complement fully matured Elijah Craig,” says Max Stefka, Associate Vice President, Elijah Craig Bourbon. “Twice barrelled for nuanced flavour, Toasted Barrel showcases a Straight Bourbon process unique in the marketplace.”
That custom toast brings dark sugar to the fore – caramelised depth from within the wood – while the balance drifts between gentle smoke and rounded sweetness over months of finishing. The result is a generous, full-bodied pour: spice and pepper up front, rolling into milk chocolate and a wisp of smoke, before settling into a long finish of chocolate and baking spices. True to tradition, only charred new American oak is used throughout, ensuring it retains its Straight Bourbon designation.
Stefka adds: “In 1789, Elijah Craig was the first to char oak barrels to make Bourbon, earning his place in history as the ‘Father of Bourbon’. Toasted Barrel celebrates this pioneering spirit by pushing the Bourbon barrel ageing process a step further and creating something totally unique.”
Bottled at 94 proof, the release arrives in the classic Elijah Craig silhouette – this time dressed in refreshed face, side, and neck labels, all accented in a suitably smoky blue.
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For your chance to win a bottle, answer the simple question below. See more at thewhiskyexchange.com and instagram.com
The question is: In what year did Elijah Craig first start charring oak barrels?
Competition closes: 1st January 2026
By entering the competition, it is deemed that the entrant accepts the terms and conditions stated below.
No purchase necessary.
Prize cannot be exchanged for cash equivalent.
Prize is not transferable.
One entry per person, no bulk or third-party entries, unless the rules of the competition state so.
No responsibility can be taken for any lost or delayed entries.
Winner must be 18 years old or over.
The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries and will be notified by email.
The winner will need to confirm acceptance within 7 days of being notified. If the winner does not confirm acceptance within this timeframe, the promoter has the right to pick another winner.
