Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B525 (May 2025) and C925 (September 2025)
Some belated coverage (apologies) is nigh for the last two of the three Heaven Hill Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases for 2025. I swear, guys, it’s tough to keep up. The good news is you’ll still have ample opportunity to pick up both of these releases, should either review resonate with your tastes.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B525 (May 2025) Review
11 years, 6 months old — one of the older releases in recent memory, and one of the more well-rounded ones. Woody and austere on the nose, it smells like you’re settling into an old leather chair at your favorite lounge, oiled wood all around. Gentle notes of tobacco and menthol add some spice, but it works well with the otherwise barrel-forward presentation.
The palate takes all that wood and massages it with layers of applesauce, spiced cider, marzipan, and some sesame. The fruit builds considerably, leaning hard into apple and baking spice, until it finds a finish that dries things out — perhaps overly so, leaving behind a dusty frontier quality that evokes late-game notes of rosemary and sage. Touches of cloves and anise linger as all else fades out.
While it’s certainly savory in its overall approach, this ECBP release provides a journey that is otherwise uncommon in the Barrel Proof lineup, taking you from the barrel to the orchard and back again. It’s not the most complex in the series, but it nonetheless has plenty of charm available for a blanket recommendation.
126.2 proof. A- / $85 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT] [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C925 (September 2025) Review
A wee babe at 9 years, 1 month old. Again, the barrel dominates the nose, but this time it offers a very savory, beefy quality that doesn’t feel as lush and enveloping as B525 does. Gentle greenery and some vegetal, turned earth elements amplify this effect, culminating in aromas of black pepper and rosemary torched on the grill.
The palate is hot, almost scorching, with plenty more wood to pour onto the fire, along with hearty notes of cinnamon and cloves. Dried banana chips and dried apples add a lightly autumnal feel, but neither is dominant, with dark chocolate and some creosote building as the finish approaches. I knew I needed to try this whiskey with water, but this wasn’t the revelation I’d hoped for. Tempered, the chocolate notes pop more clearly, but some much-needed vanilla and caramel elements remain obscured beneath a bit too much smokiness. The result is closer to a toffee that’s cooked for too long and has burnt a bit around the edges. That can be fun in the right context, but here it’s ultimately a bit one-note.
129.0 proof. B / $85 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT] [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
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