A little background
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a product from Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Named after the founder of bourbon, Reverend Elijah Craig, this whiskey historically packed a 12 year age statement, however, that age statement was removed by Heaven Hill in an effort to have more variation between batches. The good news is this product is still bottled at barrel proof without chill filtration. Three batches of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof are put out every year, and this particular one is the second for 2025. Taking a closer look at the name B525, the “B” denotes that it is the second batch of the year, “5” is the month that it was released in (May), and “25” signifies the year it was released in. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B525 is bottled at 126.2 Proof, has an age statement of 11 Years and 6 Months, and has a retail price of around $70 USD.(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)
Color
Copper
Nose
Coffee ice cream, brown sugar, molasses, cherry, dates, sugar cookie, oak, and spiced peaches.
Palate
Molasses, brown sugar, black licorice taffy, cherry, root beer, burnt caramel, walnuts, and Café Olé.
Finish
Dark cherry, brown sugar, espresso, molasses, baking spice, and lingering oak.
In closing
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B525 is an incredibly rich and complex pour that stands out within the ECBP series. Its nose offers pleasant notes of coffee ice cream, brown sugar, and spiced peaches, while the palate delivers a delightful depth of molasses, black licorice taffy, and burnt caramel, transitioning seamlessly to a long, complex finish of dark cherry, espresso, and lingering oak. The alcohol is remarkably well-integrated on the nose, and the whiskey boasts an incredible mouthfeel with a pancake syrup richness, evolving beautifully with every nose and sip. Notably, this batch distinguishes itself from other ECBP releases by avoiding excessive oak and dryness, proving that a specific age statement isn’t always necessary for an exceptional barrel proof expression.
Check out how B525 stacks up against other Elijah Craig Barrel Proof releases.
NOTE: The sample used for this review was provided at no cost courtesy of Heaven Hill Distillery. We thank them for the sample and for allowing us to review it with no strings attached.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B525 Review
9.1
The Good
- Value
- Mouthfeel
- Flavor profile
The Bad
- Availability
