Overview: If the standard Elijah Craig Small Batch is the dependable workhorse of the Heaven Hill lineup, the Toasted Barrel is what happens when you give it a second run in a toasted new oak barrel. Same 94 proof, same familiar DNA — but the toasted finish takes that classic peanut-and-caramel profile and wraps it in something that reads more like dessert. At around $40, the premium over the standard Small Batch is modest enough that it’s worth trying side by side.

Age: NAS

Proof: 94 (47% ABV)

Mashbill: Heaven Hill standard (undisclosed, corn-forward)

Nose: Toasted marshmallow and graham cracker dominate right out of the glass, with vanilla taffy underneath. There’s a fruitiness in the background — maraschino cherries and a little honey — that keeps it from feeling one-dimensional. It smells like a s’more, which is either exactly what you’re looking for or a yellow flag depending on your preferences.

Palate: Oily and rich in the mouth. Burnt sugar and chocolate-covered pecans hit first, then a light orange peel zest cuts through and keeps things from going fully into candy territory. The charred oak shows up just enough to remind you this is still bourbon. (If you want to understand what the toasted barrel is actually doing here, I wrote about that.)

Finish: Medium-long. Starts sweet — almost fruit roll-up sweet — then dries out with smoky oak and a dark chocolate bitterness that lingers. The finish is the most interesting part of this bottle; it’s where the toasted barrel does its best work.

Final Thoughts: A solid choice for anyone who likes the standard Small Batch and wonders what a toasted finish would do to it. Here’s your answer. It’s not a bottle I’d reach for every night, but it earns its shelf space — especially if you’re easing someone into the world of finished whiskeys and want something approachable with a little extra going on.

Rating: Middle Shelf - Link to ratings explanations