Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (C922)
Overall Score: 7/10
Overall Value: 3.5/5
Distillery: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Classification: Straight Bourbon
Company: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Release Date: September 2022
Proof: 124.8
Age: 12 Years
Color: Dark Honey
MSRP: $60 (2022)
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
The Barrel Bros’ Review
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C922 opens with aromas of banana nut muffin and a Payday candy bar, sweetened by caramel toffee and pudding. Red fruits, especially cherry, add brightness, while hints of Smarties and grapes emerge with time.
A deeper note of caramel popcorn also develops, offering some welcomed richness.
The palate provides a full mouthfeel, with flavors of chocolate pudding and vanilla Tootsie Roll dominating. The proof comes in hot, leaving a noticeable burn that can overshadow some of the nuances. There's also a medicinal cherry note that surfaces, but the expected nuttiness from the nose doesn't come through as strongly here.
The finish is long but leans into a dry medicinal cherry and oak character. Repeated sips introduce more of the nuttiness hinted at in the nose, along with toffee and hazelnut, which round out the experience. However, the medicinal note lingers, which might frustrate some drinkers.
At a solid price point, Batch C922 is a bold bourbon with unmistakable quality, but it requires patience to fully appreciate its complexities. The high proof can make it difficult to uncover its more complex flavors, and compared to other Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases, it falls slightly short. However, at its $60 MSRP, it’s still a solid barrel-proof bourbon for those who enjoy the burn and are willing to dig for the depth.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
I get banana nut muffin and a Payday candy bar.
Sweet caramel toffee and pudding with an undertone of dark red fruit.
THE TASTE:
Good full mouth feel that fills the mouth very well. Chocolate pudding and vanilla tootsie roll.
There is a pretty significant proof burn.
I’m not getting much of the nuttiness from the palate. A bit of medicinal cherry.
THE FINISH:
The finish is mostly dry medicinal cherry and oak.
After multiple sips, I do get a bit of nuttiness.
BUY OR PASS?
It’s not youthy, but the proof is present.
It’s probably not quite the experience I want for the price point, but the quality of the whiskey is unmistakable.
The Hunter Says
Score: 7/10
Value: 3.5/5
THE NOSE:
This pour greets you with bright red fruits, especially cherry, and a nostalgic mix of Smarties and Fun Dip candy.
There's a hint of oak and grape as well, but I found myself wishing for darker notes.
With time, a strong caramel popcorn aroma finally emerged.
THE TASTE:
It offers a classic bourbon profile with a good proof hug.
Unfortunately, I didn't find much depth here; the proof comes in a bit harsh, rounding out the flavors but leaving me wanting more complexity.
THE FINISH:
The finish is long, but it leans more towards a medicinal note, which was a bit disappointing.
However, as I sipped, I started to pick up on toffee and hazelnut, which helped improve the overall experience.
BUY OR PASS?
This batch requires patience. If you take your time and really dig into the pour, you'll uncover some interesting notes.
However, if you're not careful, the proof might overshadow the subtleties. It's a solid bourbon, but when compared to other Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches, it doesn't quite reach the same heights.
