Reverend Elijah Craig

Elijah Craig was an influential Baptist preacher and entrepreneur in early American history. He was born around 1738 in Orange County, Virginia, and became a prominent religious leader during the Great Awakening. A man of strong faith and determination, Craig helped spread the Baptist faith throughout the American colonies at a time when it was not widely accepted.

In 1782, Craig moved to Kentucky, which was then part of Virginia. There, he founded the town of Lebanon, later renamed Georgetown. He was not only a preacher but also a skilled businessman. He built several businesses in the area, including a sawmill, a paper mill, and a hemp mill.

Elijah Craig began distilling whiskey in 1789, and in June of that year, one of his barns partially burned down. That barn held some empty whiskey barrels. Noticing that some of the whiskey barrels were charred on the inside, yet being a frugal man, he used them anyway. On the six-month trip down to New Orleans, it was noted that the burnt barrels imparted color and flavor. Consumers raved about that “Red Liquor from Bourbon County." Because he did not do anything different to the batch of whiskey sent downriver except place it in the charred barrels, Elijah later deduced that it must have been the burnt casks. From that time on, he kept using the charred barrel process. He did this by buying used barrels that had arrived from New Orleans filled with fish to sell at the Northern Markets. Then he would fill the used barrels with hay and set them on fire on the inside. This not only got rid of the fish odor and taste, but also sterilized the Barrels and toasted the wood, caramelizing the sugars within the staves.

Craig was deeply involved in education and believed in its importance. He helped establish one of the first classical schools in Kentucky, where students could study subjects such as Latin, Greek, and philosophy.

Despite his public achievements, less is known about his personal life. Elijah Craig was married, though the name of his wife is not well documented in historical records. He had several children, and it is known that his family supported his religious and business efforts. His descendants continued to live in Kentucky after his death and carried on some of his work.

Elijah Craig died in 1808. Today, his name lives on through Elijah Craig Bourbon, which honors his legacy as a trailblazer in both faith and whiskey-making. Elijah Craig Bourbon is one of three whiskeys that were credited with beginning the “Bourbon Renaissance” in 1986, along with Blanton’s in 1984, and Booker’s in 1988.  The term “Super Premium” was established just for these three Bourbons.

Contributed by Tracy McLemore, Fairview, Tennessee