{"product_id":"elijah-craig-18-year-old-single-barrel","title":"Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e18 years. Single Barrel. Elijah Craig — the ultra-aged single barrel expression from Heaven Hill, presenting 18 years of maturation in new American white oak at a single barrel’s natural proof — the deepest age statement in the standard Elijah Craig lineup and among the oldest ongoing single barrel expressions from any major Kentucky distillery.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eElijah Craig is named for the Reverend Elijah Craig, the 18th-century Baptist minister credited by Kentucky tradition with the invention of bourbon whiskey in 1789. Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig brand spans from the entry-level Small Batch through Barrel Proof to this — the 18 Year Single Barrel — which represents the apex of age-stated Elijah Craig production.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 18 years in Kentucky’s climate, the bourbon has experienced decades of dramatic seasonal temperature cycling — summer expansion into the wood drawing out caramel and vanilla, winter contraction pulling the enriched spirit back into the center — producing deep leather, dried fruit, and oak complexity that shorter maturation cannot approach. Each barrel is bottled individually at its natural proof, meaning no two bottles are identical.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heaven Hill, Bardstown, Kentucky\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18 years\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBottling:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural barrel proof, single barrel\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/bourbon\"\u003ebourbon at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy is 18-year Kentucky bourbon so rare?\u003c\/strong\u003e Kentucky’s extreme seasonal temperatures cause high evaporative loss (angels’ share) — typically 3–4% per year. At 18 years, a significant portion of each barrel has evaporated, meaning fewer bottles per barrel and substantially higher per-bottle cost. Most distilleries can’t afford to hold stock this long without exceptional demand.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHow does the 18 Year compare to the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof?\u003c\/strong\u003e Barrel Proof is released three times annually at various ages (typically 9–12 years) and cask strengths. The 18 Year Single Barrel is a consistently older expression at a single barrel’s natural proof, representing six or more additional years of maturation beyond the typical Barrel Proof age range.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why is 18-year Kentucky bourbon so rare?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Kentucky's extreme seasonal temperatures cause 3-4% annual evaporative loss. At 18 years a significant portion has evaporated — fewer bottles per barrel and substantially higher per-bottle cost. Most distilleries can't hold stock this long.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How does the 18 Year compare to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Barrel Proof is released three times annually at typically 9-12 years. The 18 Year Single Barrel is consistently older at natural barrel proof — six or more additional years of maturation beyond the typical Barrel Proof range.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Elijah Craig","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42900557856839,"sku":"096749010189","price":299.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/ElijahCraig18-Year-OldSingleBarrel_c077db7e-3f36-4dc6-91a0-7e01004de664.png?v=1782424742","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/elijah-craig-18-year-old-single-barrel","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}