Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Batch A925 (September 2025)

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has been synonymous with bourbon since the beginning, but today the brand expands the Barrel Proof brand to a new spirit — rye whiskey. (So not too far from home.)

ECBP Rye #1, batch A925, is a 12 year, 3 month old offering, made from a mashbill of 51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley.

There will surely be more of these to come. For now, let’s tuck into the inaugural release.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Batch A925 (September 2025) Review

Brisk and chocolatey on the nose, this whiskey is hardly the herbal bomb that most modern ryes beat you over the head with and is rather bourbon-like, which is common to the standard Elijah Craig rye expression. That’s not a slight, it’s just a philosophy: Cinnamon and allspice notes are aggressive but not overwhelming, tempered by a buttery body that has plenty of corn in it to keep things creamy, with a distinct butterscotch note evident on the nose as it develops.

The palate feels right in line with expectations: Cinnamon-dusted peanuts, milk chocolate, and brown sugar kick things off to a degree where, tasting blind, I would not have guessed this was a rye at all. The chocolate dominates as a gentle fruit character builds slowly, with baked apples prominent over sweet orange oil and juice. It’s hard to get very far away from the chocolate, which drapes over peanuts and continues the spice theme, culminating in what feels like a big bite of cinnamon toast slathered in brown butter. Fortunately I really like chocolate.

Ultimately, this whiskey does not drink anywhere near its 54% abv, though a warming quality on the finish gives it a bit of late game heat to evoke a hint of the power of its barrel strength character. Nevertheless it remains incredibly drinkable and silky on the tongue, a fresh but exuberant atypical rye that any bourbon fan will immediately love. I know I did.

108 proof.

A / $90

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