Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey -750ml

Elijah Craig Rye originates from Heaven Hill’s 51% rye mash bill, which also includes Pikesville Rye and Rittenhouse Rye brands. This mash bill is often referred to as a “barely legal rye” mash bill as it contains the bare minimum 51% rye required by law. Barely legal ryes are produced by numerous distilleries, and often contain a high percentage of corn as the secondary grain. In this case, the combination of 51% rye and 35% corn is arguably not far off from a bourbon that could legally contain 51% corn and 35% rye, or some higher proportion of rye if malted barley was reduced. As a result of its relatively low rye, high corn content, the flavor profile of Elijah Craig Rye is quite similar to what might be expected from a bourbon (though, notably, it lacks the oak forwardness of its bourbon counterpart, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon). If poured blind, I think few would be able to confidently identify it as Rye versus bourbon. But this is merely an observation, and surely the end r