Who Was Elijah Craig And Is He Really The Father Of Bourbon?

Elijah Craig is often referred to as the "father" and "inventor" of bourbon, with a best-selling, award-winning brand named in his honor. His name is synonymous with innovation, ingenuity, and excellence in distillation. However, his life and legacy are more complex than his contributions to American whiskey, the facts of which are uncertain.

The Life And Times Of Elijah Craig

Elijah Craig was born in 1738 in Orange County, Virginia, to Mary “Polly” Hawkins Craig and Taliaferro “Toliver” Craig, Sr. His father was a frontiersman who fought in the Revolutionary War and was an important figure in the early Baptist Church in America. Elijah was one of seven children, three of whom would go on to become Baptist preachers, including Elijah himself.

Anglicanism was the official denomination of Colonial Virginia, which at the time included present-day West Virginia and Kentucky. Even after gaining independence from Great Britain, Baptists faced prejudice and discrimination. Elijah Craig was an advocate for religious freedom and preached without a license, resulting in fines, arrest and imprisonment. He later participated in the drafting of the Virginia Ratification Convention of 1788, working with Patrick Henry and James Madison to ensconce religious liberty into law, which would lead to its inclusion in the U.S. Constitution.

Seeking greater religious freedom and opportunities, Craig moved with a group of Baptists to the Kentucky frontier He settled in what would become Georgetown, Kentucky, just north of Lexington, and helped establish vital community structures, including mills, a paper manufacturing business, and a distillery. Craig was passionate about education and founded the first classical school in Kentucky, known as the Rittenhouse Academy, which provided instruction in Greek, Latin and the sciences. He also donated land to Georgetown College, a Christian liberal arts college open to this day.

Despite his good works, it is important to note that Elijah Craig was a slave owner. Tax records from 1800 show he owned 32 slaves, according to The Huffington Post. Many of them worked in his distillery, according to Elijah Craig Bourbon, which has made efforts to identify the enslaved men and women whose contributions to the history of American whiskey have gone uncredited. Sadly, Craig is not unique to America’s 18th and 19th century whiskey pioneers, many of whom used slave labor to build their fortunes.

Did Elijah Craig Invent Bourbon?

Elijah Craig's contributions to American whiskey are legend, with titles like “The Father of Bourbon” and “The Inventor of Bourbon” bandied about. Richard Collins’ 1874 ‘History of Kentucky’ was the first to identify Craig as the inventor of bourbon, saying, “The first Bourbon Whiskey was made in 1789, at Georgetown, at the fulling mill at the Royal spring," a reference to his property, according to The Bourbon Country Reader.

As to his contributions, Craig is credited with being the first to age whiskey in charred oak barrels, a technique that imparts a distinctive flavor and color to the spirit. Not only is char barreling essential to the character of both bourbon and rye, aging in new, charred oak barrels is mandated under U.S. law.

The exact details of Craig’s innovation are unknown and the subject of lore. One version of the story is that a fire in his cooperage charred the inside of some barrels, and rather than discard them, the frugal distillery owner used the barrels to age his whiskey. Another story claims he used second-hand barrels that had been burned inside to remove the odor of their former contents and thought charing improved the flavor.

Much like the origins of bourbon itself, Craig’s invention of char-barreling can’t be verified. “It’s probably not true,” said bourbon historian Mike Veach in a 2009 interview with Imbibe Magazine. Veach cites a 1826 letter from a whiskey wholesaler in Lexington, Kentucky, as the first recorded mention of charred barrels in the production process. “This is someone in Lexington, telling a distiller in Bourbon County how to make bourbon,” Veach says. “If Craig created bourbon (in the 1790s) why did it take 30 years for somebody to start writing about charring barrels?”

While his title as “The Father of Bourbon” may be in doubt, it's indisputable that Craig was present during the formative years of American whiskey making, opening his distillery around 1789. “There’s no doubt that (Craig) made whiskey,” said Veach. “I have seen court cases where he was being sued by the government for not paying his tax during the whiskey rebellion.” 

Elijah Craig Bourbon

Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. were founded in 1935 in Bardstown, Kentucky, and are the largest, independent, family-owned and operated distillery in the United States. In 1986, they began producing Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon, named after the historical figure, who is touted as the “Father of Bourbon” and “First to Char Oak Barrels” on its label. Eventually, it would become one of Heaven Hill’s most popular brands.

Elijah Craig was among the first "small batch" bourbons, a term that denotes a liquor produced in limited quantities from a select number of barrels. This approach ensured a higher level of quality control and consistency, setting it apart in the market. Readily available and affordably priced, its success inspired other producers to following suit with their own small batch offerings. Initially bottled at 12 years old, the 2016 loss of Elijah Craig’s age-statement was a watershed moment in the so-called “Bourbon Boom,” signifying that supply was falling short of demand for the first time in decades.

Heaven Hill would eventually expand the Elijah Craig brand, with several of its new offerings experiencing a similar popularity and influence.

Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel was one of the first “double oaked” bourbons and helped popularize the concept.

Released three times a year, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon is a fan favorite with releases ranging from 10 to 13 years in age and is consistently cited as one of the best bourbons available for under $100.

Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel bourbon is a yearly release hunted for its high-age statement and impeccable quality.

Lastly, Elijah Craig Straight Rye is a Kentucky-style rye with a mash bill that’s only 51% rye grain, the minimum amount required by law in order to be labeled a rye whiskey.

The Legacy Of Elijah Craig

Though the facts of his life may be contradictory and uncertain, Elijah Craig is intricately woven into the history of American whiskey. From his legendary reputation to the lasting impact of the brand, the name Elijah Craig continues to signify innovation and excellence in the bourbon industry. His story, marked by both achievement and controversy, underscores the history of bourbon itself—a spirit shaped by tradition, ingenuity, and the complex tapestry of American life.