Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 9 is the 9th quarterly barrel proof release of Heaven Hill’s flagship Elijah Craig bourbon and I wish I had gotten this sample from a friend before some other buddies and I sat down to taste the first 8 batches of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. It would have been great to see how it directly compared to the others.
The Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases have been interesting to run through and outside of Batch #4 I’d happily drink or pay MSRP for any of them. They’re a good value in the whiskey world and at the very least their high proof and strong oaky presence lends very well to cocktails. One of the best Sazeracs I’ve ever had was made using Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and elegantly displayed the versatility of a well aged high proof bourbon.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 9 Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Heaven Hill
Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye and 12% Barley
Cask: New charred oak
Age: 12 years
ABV: 69.9%
Cask Strength
Batch: 9
Price: $50
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 9 Review
EYE
Brownish red
NOSE
Oak, caramel, corn, dried dark fruit, vanilla and spice all work their way out of the glass and through my olfactory with some trailing notes of cocoa and nuts following behind.
PALATE
A solid chunk of oak drops out of the glass followed by notes of corn, dark sweets, dark fruit, vanilla, spice and a touch of peanuts.
FINISH
Long and corn heavy with notes of caramel, peanuts, oak and mint.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Oak doesn’t get fully balanced out, but it’s complex enough to retain a decent enough balance. Thick full body and an oily heavy feel.
OVERALL
I enjoyed the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 9 quite a bit. It’s not as balanced as some of the other releases, but came together better than others. It’s a tasty representation of what Heaven Hill can put out and I’d put its complexity and overall character on par, though a bit amped up, with the regular release of Elijah Craig 12 which is one of my favorite all-around sipping whiskeys. If you’re considering a bottle of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 9 at the liquor store or a glass of it at the bar I say go for it – so long as the price isn’t ridiculous that is. I’ve seen some crazy pricing out there for these releases so just keep in mind that the MSRP for these is around $45.
SCORE: 87/100
