Elijah Craig Barrel Proof – All Batches (Updated 2025)
When Elijah Craig launched its Barrel Proof lineup in 2013, we had no expectation that it would continue all these years and ultimately take a place as one of the most revered and anticipated bourbons to hit the market at a regular clip.
The whiskey began life as a 12 year old expression, then changed to varying age statements (almost always younger, naturally) in 2023. The core Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release is bourbon, made from Heaven Hill’s classic mashbill of 755 corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. An Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye (51% rye, 35% corn, and 14% malted barley) was introduced in 2025.
Today, ECBP Bourbon, as it’s known, is released three times a year, and keeping track of them can be difficult. With that in mind, we’re combining a decade-plus worth of reviews and digesting the entire lineup here, including all the salient production details along with a capsule review and rating. We aren’t including prices here, as these vary widely (and get higher and higher) the further back you go.
We’ll update this page each time a new ECBP is released, so feel free to bookmark it for posterity if the brand is of enduring interest.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Releases – Complete Guide
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 1 – 2013, 134.2 proof, 12 years old. A fiery attack reveals dark wood, cocoa, and apple-caramel notes that mellow into cinnamon, applesauce, and a silky finish when water is added. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 2 – 2013, 137.0 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 3 – 2014, 133.2 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 4 – 2014, 132.4 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 5 – 2014, 134.8 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 6 – 2014, 140.2 proof, 12 years old. The hottest ECBP to this day. Massive punches of wood on the nose with a bit of mint; the body is all oak, toffee, and pepper. Nicely wintry, even after taking it down a notch with a splash of water. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 7 – 2015, 128.0 proof, 12 years old. A very pretty, elegant expression at a much lower proof than #6. Lots of vanilla sweetness balanced with some dark fruit and oak, with a bit of burnt char on the body, finishing with fruit and spice. B+
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 8 – 2015, 139.8 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 9 – 2015, 135.6 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 10 – 2016, 138.8 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 11 – 2016, 139.4 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Release 12 – 2016, 136.0 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
In January 2017, ECBP transitioned to its new nomenclature, which includes a letter (order of releases throughout the year – A, B, or C), then three digits. The first corresponds to the month of release, the final two the year of release. It’s an awful, confusing naming system that ensures product names are not consecutive (Batch #171A would be so much better…), but we’re stuck with it, I suppose. A new bottle design launched with this release, too.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A117 – January 2017, 127.0 proof, 12 years old. A well-aged, copper-toned Elijah Craig delivers caramel corn and vanilla on the nose, sweet tea and cola on the palate, and a balanced, spicy finish with cloves and oak. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B517 – May 2017, 124.2 proof, 12 years old. A bold yet lower-proof Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bursts with buttered popcorn, baking spice, and butterscotch, showing bittersweet scorched wood on the palate that softens beautifully with water into brown sugar, orange peel, and sweet licorice candy. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C917 – September 2017, 131.0 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A118 – January 2018, 130.6 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B518 – May 2018, 133.4 proof, 12 years old. Not reviewed.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C918 – September 2018, 131.4 proof, 12 years old. A high-proof, smoky ECBP release erupts with barrel char, bacon, and caramel, evolving into savory campfire embers and roasted notes that water softens only slightly, making it a bold, unconventional bourbon far from the classic Kentucky profile. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A119 – January 2019, 135.2 proof, 12 years old. A massive, wood-driven whiskey with leathery, peppery intensity that reveals vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and subtle fruit only after careful dilution, ultimately rewarding patience with a lively, engaging experience. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B519 – May 2019, 122.2 proof, 12 years old. A gentler 61% release that balances smoky barrel char and leather with surprising sweetness of brown butter, butterscotch, and cinnamon, finishing in milk chocolate, vanilla, and menthol notes that make it a charming outlier among the series. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C919 – September 2019, 136.8 proof, 12 years old. An unusually sweet and fruit-forward release, bursting with butterscotch, banana, apples, pears, and spice, that softens with water into notes of vanilla frosting, mint, and caramel corn, making it one of the most distinctive expressions in the lineup. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A120 – January 2020, 136.6 proof, 12 years old. This one blazes with lumber, spearmint, cherry pits, and smoky coal fire, yet balances beautifully with butterscotch, red pepper, raspberry, and spice, revealing milk chocolate and fruit with just a touch of water. The standout release of the series up to this point in time, and ECBP’s first appearance on our top 10 whiskeys of the year list. A
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B520 – May 2020, 127.2 proof, 12 years old. A release that delivers rickhouse aromas of chocolate, char, and barbecue smoke with a spiced palate of cloves, nutmeg, and burnt caramel, but despite water unlocking butterscotch, red pepper, and even peanut butter notes, its gritty finish and lack of balance keep it from standing out. B+
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C920 – September 2020, 132.8 proof, 12 years old. A hot, char-heavy bourbon layered with dark fruit, toffee, and maple syrup, whose beefy, tannic edge softens with water into chocolate-covered cherries and butter notes, though it ultimately feels past its prime. B+
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A121 – January 2021, 123.6 proof, 12 years old. A121 delivers a rickhouse nose of wood, scorched earth, honey, and blackberries, leading to a blazing yet balanced palate of Mexican chocolate spice, brown butter, and baking notes, finishing long and seductive with red and black fruit. Another top-tier expression in the series and the second top 10 list inductee. A
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B521 – May 2021, 118.2 proof, 12 years old. New label design rolled out, but no other changes. The lowest abv release in the series hits the nose with fiery pepper, butterscotch, vanilla frosting, and floral notes, while the palate leans heavily into maple syrup, milk chocolate, cinnamon buns, and red berries, ultimately skewing overly sweet. B+
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C921 – September 2021, 120.2 proof, 12 years old. A hot yet fruit-forward bourbon, balancing cherries, spiced strawberry, orange peel, and chocolate against barrel char and clove, delivering a classic profile that fans will find a strong companion to the standout A121 release. A
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A122 – January 2022, 120.8 proof, 12 years old. A hot yet approachable release, opening with nutmeg, cloves, char, marshmallow, and dark chocolate, then unfolding into red apple, currants, raisin, fruitcake, caramel apple, and red pepper, finishing mildly dry but overall lively and well-balanced. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B522 – May 2022, 121.0 proof, 12 years old. Leans barrel-forward with pepper, cloves, and dill on the nose, delivering a savory palate of charred wood, stewed fruit, and red wine, finishing with mint and spice in a warming but ultimately modest expression. B+
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C922 – September 2022, 124.8 proof, 12 years old. A top shelf release, opening with dessert-like aromas of caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, and bittersweet chocolate, then unfolding into cherry, spearmint, coconut, banana, and red pepper, finishing as a harmonious blend of chocolate, fruit, vanilla, caramel, and cinnamon that recalls a banana split in a glass. A
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A123 – January 2023, 125.6 proof, 12 years old. Starts with a beefy, peppery nose with raspberry, thyme, and sage that evolves into chocolate, cinnamon, and a banana split-like mix of caramel and nuts, while the palate balances char, black fruit, burnt caramel, and vanilla, finishing with cinnamon red hots, Bit-O-Honey sweetness, and minted butterscotch. A versatile entry in the series.
Variable age statements began in May 2023 with the release of ECBP B523. Bottle labels reflect the change.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B523 – May 2023, 124.2 proof, 11 years 5 months old. B523 leans savory and spice-driven, with coffee, cocoa, tobacco, pepper, and beefy notes dominating, while water teases out spearmint, pastry dough, and brown butter—but the lack of fruit and a leathery, green finish keep it from achieving the vibrancy of stronger releases in the series. B
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 – September 2023, 133.0 proof, 13 years 7 months old. Opens with cinnamon, mint, restrained fruit, and lumberyard char, then delivers a scorching palate of brewed tea, baking spice, dark chocolate, and bay leaf. While water amplifies cinnamon and tea at the expense of fruit and sweetness, the finish stays drying and over-charred, making this a palatable but one-note release that proves age doesn’t always equal quality. B+
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A124 – January 2024, 119.0 proof, 10 years 9 months old. Rugged and challenging, with a nose of roasted meat, leather, camphor, and faint blackberry, leading to a palate dominated by black pepper, green onion, barrel char, and beef jerky. Herbal thyme, caramel, and drying oak emerge with time, offering rustic charm but leaving a sandpaper-like finish that only partially softens with a thread of sweetness. B
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524 – May 2024, 130.6 proof, 11 years 2 months old. Opens with savory aromatics of espresso, leather, burnt ends, and campfire smoke, but shifts dramatically on the palate into a sweeter, fruit-forward profile of banana, brown sugar, caramel custard, maraschino cherry, and walnuts. The finish stays warm and spicy, yet the “banana split” character makes it unusually approachable and versatile. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C924 – September 2024, 129.0 proof, 11 years old. Restrained and wood-forward with beefy undertones. The palate leans heavily on tannic oak, hazelnuts, and more anise, gradually opening to caramel and vanilla, before finishing with a surprising raspberry note pitted against black pepper. B
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A125 – January 2025, 118.2 proof, 10 years 7 months old. Proof that lower abv doesn’t mean lesser quality, this bourbon opens with leathery oak, brown butter, sesame oil, and blood orange peel before shifting into a palate dominated by bittersweet chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla syrup, and char. A baked apple pie note lingers through the long finish, making this a standout release worthy of a permanent spot in your bar. Another top whiskeys of the year winner.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B525 – May 2025, 126.2 proof, 11 years 6 months old. Woody and austere with a nose of leather, tobacco, and menthol, it shifts into a palate layered with applesauce, spiced cider, marzipan, sesame, and baking spice. The finish dries into rosemary, sage, cloves, and anise; while not the most complex, it stands out as a well-rounded and charming installment in the series. A-
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C925 – September 2025, 129.0 proof, 9 years 1 month old. Quite young but also barrel-driven, with a savory, beefy nose accented by greenery, earth, black pepper, and rosemary. The palate is hot and wood-heavy, layered with cinnamon, cloves, dried banana chips, dried apples, dark chocolate, and creosote. It’s interesting in flashes, but ultimately too one-note compared to more balanced entries in the series. B
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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Releases – Complete Guide
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Batch A925 – September 2025, 108 proof, 12 years 3 months old. An atypical rye that leans bourbon-like, with a brisk, chocolatey nose accented by cinnamon, allspice, butterscotch, and a creamy corn-driven body. The palate layers cinnamon-dusted peanuts, milk chocolate, brown sugar, baked apples, and orange oil. Despite its barrel strength, it drinks silky and approachable, a rye that bourbon fans will find irresistibly drinkable. Straight out of the gate, it’s also a top 20 whiskey of the year. A
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