Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525 Review

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Batch B525
11 years 6 months old
126.2 Proof
SRP: $75 / 750ml
Review

Please enjoy our Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525 review with guest reviewer John Spicer! Join us as John and I both taste this bourbon and compare notes.

The Oldest Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Since 2023

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is Heaven Hill’s uncut, straight from the barrel, non-chilled filtered edition of their 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye bourbon mash bill, referred to as “HH Reg” by the distillery.  This batch is the second in the triannual release and comes in at 126.2 proof and carries the oldest age statement, 11 years and 6 months, since the highly regarded Batch C923.  Past releases have won numerous awards, including “Whiskey of the Year” from Whisky Advocate in 2017. However, the last several releases, while still enjoyable, haven’t been quite as enthusiastically received by bourbon enthusiasts. The credentials of Batch B525 raised our eyebrows, so we were eager to give it a try!

Tasting Notes – Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525 Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested for 15 minutes in a Glencairn

👉🏻Nose:
John: Vanilla custard with a cocoa dusting, raisins and plums, and just the right amount of oak and barrel char.  Diving deeper you get well aged leather, clove, and just a sprinkling of cinnamon.
Ed: Fairly sweet, with confectionary flavors of brown sugar and lightly burnt toffee. There is plenty of fruit from dark cherries and raspberry jam. Mild hot cinnamon and dry oak round out the nose. Later on, leather becomes noticeable and lingers in my glass. The alcohol vapor is appropriate for the fairly high proof.

👉🏻Taste:
John: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525 takes one on a gentle rollercoaster ride starting off with sweet caramel but then builds with plenty of oak, tobacco, and baking spice before coming back down to buttery sweet pastry that reminds me of butter tarts from my youth.
Ed: Rich, with a moderate sweetness from brown sugar, and lightly burnt toffee, too. Mild hot cinnamon and dry oak add a nice contrast to the sweeter flavors.
    
👉🏻Finish:
John: The 126.6 proof makes its presence known but quickly fades leaving moderate sweet oak and dark fruit.
Ed: Fairly spicy from white pepper and a touch of hot cinnamon. There is mild remaining sweetness from brown sugar. Later on, mild barrel char appears. The finish is long, with lingering spice and a deep warmth.

Summary: 

John: This is a very good bourbon and exactly what people used to expect from Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.  The nose is inviting, the palate is well balanced, and while there is no mistaking the higher proof on the finish, it leaves you looking forward to that next sip.
Ed: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525 has all the characteristics that I expect from the expression — confectionary flavors, dark stone fruits, just the right amount of oak, a bit of spice and a pleasant warmth. It’s an excellent bourbon.

Conclusion:

Even though John and I tasted this bourbon separately, we both wholeheartedly agree that Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525 should please anyone who enjoys some of the older, higher proof, releases of this expression. It offers the full, rich and mature flavors that one expects, with ample proof to add a little punch. If you are a fan of the older higher proof Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches, then this is one that you are definitely going to want to try! Have you tried Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B525 review with guest reviewer John Spicer! If you would like to read about some other Elijah Craig expressions, check out our Elijah Craig Toasted Rye Review, our Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon Review and our Elijah Craig Straight Rye Review! If you would like to learn more about visiting the brand destination, check out our Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience Review!

About The Reviewer: John Spicer was a Scotch drinker who became obsessed with Kentucky’s native spirit during a charity Bourbon dinner back in 2010. Since that moment, he has spent his free time expanding his knowledge about whiskey, touring distilleries, and reviewing whiskies. John is a long-time member, and current President, of Cleveland Bourbon Club and is also a founding member of the Bourbon Capital Guild. While residing in Ohio, you will often find him at his second home in Bardstown, KY where he enjoys being as close to the distilleries as possible.

Note: This sample was provided by Heaven Hill Distillery for our review. We appreciate it!

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