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Elijah Craig Duo - 09/10/2023 - Other Distilled Spirits

The Latest Entries in a Beloved Heaven Hill Line-Up
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch A123"
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
"It's a slam dunk of a batch from Elijah Craig, which has in many ways set a new industry standard for quality barrel-proof offerings over the last few years."
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer
K&L mini logo
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch B523"
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)
"I'll be damned if this isn't just as delicious as I expect from Elijah Craig."
— Andrew Whiteley, K&L Spirits Buyer

Since its inaugural release back in 2013, Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has grown into an easy favorite among collectors. Heaven Hill fans, take notice. This pair is right in your wheelhouse, with the added complexity of full cask strength and several more years in barrel than the acclaimed HH Bottled-in-Bond. If you haven't already, it's time to get familiar with one of Kentucky's best premium line-ups.

Item Name Retail Link
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch A123" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch B523" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View

Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch A123" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch B523" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $69.99 View


Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch A123" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)

Batch A123 still retains its 12 year age statement. At just 3 releases a year, ECBP is not quite readily available, but it is just accessible enough to be a daily drinker if you stock up when you have the chance. With our latest large parcel secured we've been able to remove the allocation limit making now the time to ensure you've got Elijah Craig 12 year for the foreseeable future. According to Whiskey Wash, "Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon A123 is a fiery hot whiskey that will satisfy the quench of an experienced palate…the proof is in the proof! At 125.6 proof, this bourbon packs a punch and delivers a spicy, full-mouth-experience. Although the heat is intense, it drinks consistent with a high end bourbon and is well-worth it’s price." *4.5/5 stars*

Michael Pires | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 05, 2023

Another great Barrel Proof release from Elijah Craig! Barrel Proof collectors hunting for higher proof releases are in luck with this batch. Batch A123 comes in at 125.6 proof. This may not be the highest proof batch ever done, but its the highest proof that Elijah Craig has released since 2020. This batch has a great balance of grain sweetness, oak character, and uncut bite. A legendary Bourbon at an unbeatable price!

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 05, 2023

A complex array of caramel, burnt sugar, crack black pepper, honey mixed with saw dust, vanilla, and heat from the hefty 62.8% ABV straight from the barrel without chill filtration at a classic 12 year age statement is all on offer in ECBP Batch A123. Every sip you take offers new notes: the first might hit you with roasted nuts, the second offers cherry syrup, the third vanilla shortbread, then sawn oak, then Manuka honey, then crème brûlée, then salted caramels, wham - cinnamon dust, pow - pepper. Bam, Bam, Bam. It just keeps coming. Each taste causes your mouth to water just a little bit more and each taste brings in more stuffing to fill your palate back up. It's a slam dunk of a batch from Elijah Craig which has in many ways has set a new industry standard for quality barrel proof offerings over the last few years. Heaven Hill has thread the needle well - with 3 releases a year, it remains special, but batch sizes have grown just large enough to be able to finally offer these without limit. It's an exciting time for Bourbon.

 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof "Batch B523" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($69.99)

Aged for over 11 years, this barrel-proof Bourbon is a deep bronze color and absolute joy to drink. This is the second limited-edition release from Elijah Craig in 2023, bottled uncut and unfiltered - straight from the barrel - in May of 2023. According to the distillery, this release is defined by notes of caramel, butterscotch, and vanilla. A must-have for bourbon lovers.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 21, 2023

This is an absolutely fantastic single barrel from one of Kentucky's best bourbons. It is big, full bodied and round like most single barrel offerings. There is a beautiful nose with cherry and vanilla notes. In the mouth, it is concentrated with a continuation of the flavor profile. With a little water, it opens up and becomes a little more soft. There is a long and pleasurable finish.

Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2023

The Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches continue to roll out, and they continue to be high in quality with a very reasonable price given the age of maturation and intensity of flavors. Batch B523 comes in a little under 12 years old (no age statement on the bottle) and at 62.1% ABV. Like many of my colleagues, I get more concentrated oak and nuttiness in B523 compared to other batches we've recently had at K&L. The nose opens with yummy melted caramel, cocoa powder, a black tea herbal character, baked cinnamon apples, marzipan, and oak char. The palate has more oak and more fruit come through with red apple, syrupy cherries, and bitter orange. The cocoa powder I got on the nose becomes dark chocolate, then I get butter cookies, toffee, and roasted nuts. The finish rounds to more black tea and polished oak.

Michael Pires | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2023

Another great Elijah Craig Barrel Proof that stands out from the A123 that we just got our hands on. B523 slightly lower proof than A123, with a proof of 124.2. B523 also has a deeper oak profile and nuttiness than A123. B523 is showing more pronounced notes of dill, vanilla bean, and baking spice on the nose and palate. Also, B523 has a smoother finish than A123. Elijah Craig has been knocking it out of the park this year with their Barrel Proof releases!

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: July 19, 2023

A controversial release in the Elijah Craig pantheon, B523 is the first to be released under 12 years old. At 11 years and 5 months, it's close enough for my palate. Like all ECBP it's uncut - bottled straight from the barrel without chill filtration and still delivers one of the best values out of Kentucky. This barrel proof batch comes in at 124.2 proof and delivers intense oak, sweet caramel, candied apples, and miles of vanilla all with the punch and heat you'd expect from a full cask strength bottling. To me the standout difference in this release is a distinct peanut brittle note. It's much nuttier than many releases and strikes me more like an older and higher proof version of the excellent Heaven Hill 7 year. I, like most whiskey drinkers, love to see an age statement, but most of all, I care about how a whisky tastes - and I'll be damned if this isn't just as delicious as I expect from Elijah Craig. It now fits more in line with their other premium brands like Old Fitz which has a moving target age statement, but is always an incredibly good premium pour.