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 third for 2023. Taking a closer look at the name C923, the “C” denotes that it is the third batch of the year, “9” is the month that it was released in (September), and “23” signifies the year it was released in.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 is bottled at 133 Proof, has an age statement of 13 Years and 7 Months, and has a retail price of around $70 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Gold

Nose

Marshmallow cream, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange tootsie roll, fudge, limoncello, and oak.

Palate

Coffee, fudge, orange, lemon, pancake syrup, and oak.

Finish

Toffee, caramel, chocolate, fudge, cinnamon, and oak.

In closing

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is consistently a fantastic Bourbon release and batch C923 is no exception. This tasting experience of this release starts off with an incredible nose filled with sweet marshmallow cream, baking spice, and chocolate. On the palate, you’re met with a thick and luxurious Bourbon that coats the mouth and follows through into a wonderfully long finish.

The overall flavor profile of this release is much different than other Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches with cherry being less prominent. The pudding-like mouthfeel and dark rich flavor profile are truly exceptional. To no surprise, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923 is another wonderful release and one I wouldn’t hesitate buying multiple bottles of.

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.