The Elijah Craig is soo hyped, that I put it in the Budweiser realm. Sure it has good reviews, but there's no fucking way you're telling me that "18-year-old" oak barreled Bourbon tastes like Murdy's giant pelvis cleft? Dry and crumbly? Like an overripe chunk of Bleu Cheese.
I suggest a Bourbon called Blanton's. It has a smooth body, with undertones of vanilla, caramel, and a small finish. It's Jon Wick's favorite drink. Also, I always take some shit for this but, I think using a glass Tumbler with a bunch of ice is the way to go. Let the ice melt a bit so it can dilute the drink, that way the cold brings out the earthy richness, without the bite. Adding some water to a room temperature drink never made much sense to me. Also, putting a spritz of soda water into a $30 drink is also pretty retarded. Maybe you've had Blanton's then great, if you haven't, you should at least try it.