Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey
Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey is a 750mL Kentucky straight rye bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof) by Heaven Hill in Bardstown, Kentucky. It is made the traditional Kentucky way — 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley, a mash that leans on corn as the secondary grain rather than more rye, exactly as Kentucky distilleries have made American rye since Prohibition — and it is extra-aged in new charred oak, in keeping with the Elijah Craig portfolio's founding tenet. Launched in January 2020, it was the first rye ever to carry the Elijah Craig name. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash: 51% rye, 35% corn, 14% malted barley
- Ageing: Extra-aged in new charred oak (no age statement)
- Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
- Origin: Heaven Hill, Bardstown, Kentucky
The First Rye to Carry the Elijah Craig Name
Elijah Craig is Heaven Hill's flagship bourbon family, built on extra ageing — and for decades it was bourbon only. The Straight Rye, introduced in January 2020 in select markets, applied the same formula to rye: the classic Kentucky "barely legal" 51% rye mash, where corn does the softening work other states assign to more rye grain, then extra time in new charred oak selected by Heaven Hill's distillers. Heaven Hill's own award sheet credits it with Platinum Best of Class at the SIP Awards 2020, Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a Whisky Advocate Top 10 of 2020 placing, and Double Gold with 92 points at the TAG Global Spirits Awards 2024. Explore the family on the Elijah Craig vendor page, or browse our rye whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Per Heaven Hill: medium chestnut in colour; the nose is dark chocolate, spices and a hint of smoke; the taste is rich baking spices and honey with a smooth oak influence; and the finish is long and lingering — the rye's spicy sharpness balanced by the corn's sweetness.
How to Enjoy
A natural Manhattan rye — its featured serve — and equally at home neat or in a Sazerac, where the 94 proof holds its line under dilution. More Kentucky rye is in our whisky collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mash bill of Elijah Craig Rye?
51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley — the traditional Kentucky rye mash, where corn rather than extra rye is the secondary grain.
How old is Elijah Craig Straight Rye?
Heaven Hill describes it as extra-aged but publishes no age statement; as a straight rye it is aged at least two years in new charred oak, and no specific number should be claimed for it.
What proof is Elijah Craig Straight Rye?
94 proof (47% ABV), in a 750mL bottle.
Kentucky's traditional rye mash, extra-aged — order Elijah Craig Straight Rye online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
