Elijah Craig Debuts History-Steeped Tavern Trail in Celebration of the Seventh Annual Old Fashioned Week

BARDSTOWN, Ky. , Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Elijah Craig, the award-winning family of premium American whiskeys, today announced the return of Old Fashioned Week , now in its seventh year. Running from October 9 through October 18, the annual celebration honors the age-old cocktail and the hospitality professionals behind every serve. New for this year is the Old Fashioned Tavern Trail, a collection of taverns comprised of Old Fashioned Week participants across the US that foster community, connection and a love of great bourbon.

Founded in 2020 as a way for Elijah Craig to support hospitality workers in need, Old Fashioned Week is a 10-day celebration inviting bourbon fans from coast-to-coast to discover creative twists on the classic cocktail while supporting a worthy cause. One dollar from every Old Fashioned sold at participating establishments will benefit the Southern Smoke Foundation, which provides emergency relief and no cost mental health services to hospitality workers in need. To-date, Elijah Craig has pledged over $600,000 to Southern Smoke and other hospitality organizations with efforts extending across U.S., Canada and the U.K.

Aptly timed to America’s 250th anniversary, the Old Fashioned Tavern Trail debuts as an extension of Old Fashioned Week as people and communities seek places to gather, share in one another’s company and slow down over conversation and cocktails. Featuring a collection of participating Old Fashioned Week accounts among the over 12,000 who participate annually, the Tavern Trail spotlights 70 destinations across the country, ranging from historic, colonial-era taverns to modern third spaces keeping the timeless cocktail ritual alive. Bourbon fans and anyone looking for a reason to gather can discover the Old Fashioned Tavern Trail, and participating Old Fashioned Week bars, through the “Find a Bar” tool at www.oldfashionedweek.com.

“Elijah Craig’s Old Fashioned Week is a tribute to the iconic cocktail that has brought people together over generations and to the hospitality community that makes these moments possible,” said Max Stefka, Associate Vice President, Elijah Craig Bourbon. “As consumers continue to prioritize analog experiences and moments of togetherness, Old Fashioned Week and the debut of the Tavern Trail, pay homage to the return of tavern culture, and the role they play in bringing communities together.”

Credited as the “Father of Bourbon,” Reverend Elijah Craig is believed to be the first to char his whiskey barrels to make Bourbon, creating the rich amber liquid and smooth flavor we know today. Elijah Craig Small Batch, the expression that started it all, makes an ideal Old Fashioned with its smooth and warm taste, spice-forward accents and long, sweet and slightly toasty finish.

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Source: Heaven Hill Brands. Photo credit: Heaven Hill Brands.