The benchmark batch. If you find it on the secondary market, it earns every penny of the premium.

Exceptional balance at a genuinely high proof. Still trades on the secondary market — and for good reason.

A 9.1 at ~$65 MSRP is exceptional value. The right starting point if you haven’t tried ECBP bourbon.

The inaugural ECBP Rye batch impresses with a more approachable proof and a spice-forward profile that stands apart from the bourbon line.

What is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof?

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is an uncut, unfiltered Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey produced by Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Released three times per year, each batch is bottled directly from the barrel at proof levels ranging from 108 to 140. No water is added and the whiskey is not chill-filtered. As of 2025, Heaven Hill also releases an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye on the same schedule.

What proof is Elijah Craig Barrel Proof?

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon ranges from approximately 118 to 140 proof depending on the batch. The rye releases run lower — A925 came in at 108 proof. Because both are bottled directly from the barrel without dilution, proof varies with every release. Early bourbon batches (2013–2018) regularly exceeded 136 proof; recent batches generally land between 118 and 133.

What is the best Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batch?

Whiskey Consensus has personally reviewed 26 of 41 ECBP batches. The highest-scoring bourbon is B516 (May 2016) at 9.6 out of 10. Among currently available batches, A119 (January 2019, 9.3/10) and B525 (May 2025, 9.1/10) offer the best scores at or near retail. For the rye line, A925 (September 2025) scored 8.9/10 in its inaugural release.

How do you read an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batch code?

The batch code is four characters: one letter and three numbers. The letter shows which release it was that year for that style (A = first, B = second, C = third). The first number is the month. The final two digits are the year. The bourbon and rye lines use their own independent A/B/C sequences — so A925 is the first rye release of September 2025, while C925 is the third bourbon release of that same month.

What is the difference between Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon and Rye?

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon uses a corn-forward mash bill producing caramel, vanilla, and oak character at barrel proof — the style the brand has released since 2013. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye, introduced in 2025, uses a high-rye mash bill and delivers a spicier, more fruit-forward profile at barrel proof. Both are uncut, unfiltered, and released three times per year.

Does Elijah Craig Barrel Proof still have an age statement?

No. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof carried a 12-year age statement until Heaven Hill removed it in 2023. The change allows Heaven Hill to select barrels at peak maturity rather than at a fixed age point, enabling greater proof and flavor variation between batches. Releases bottled before 2023 still reflect 12-year-aged bourbon.

How much does Elijah Craig Barrel Proof cost?

Current Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases retail for approximately $60–70 MSRP. Older and higher-scoring batches command significant secondary market premiums — B516 (9.6/10) regularly sells for $300–500+, while batches from 2019–2020 typically trade between $150–250 on the secondary market.