Home Bourbon Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920

October 18, 2020 · By Matthew Evans · 9.1 / 10
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Whiskey Consensus Score
9.1 /10
Outstanding
Score Breakdown
Complexity
9
Nose
8.9
Palate
9.2
Finish
9
Value
9.5
Consensus Score
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Nose
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9.1
/ 10
Our Verdict
Outstanding

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a product from Heaven Hill Distillery that's names after the founder of bourbon, Reverend Elijah Craig.

The Good

  • Flavor profile
  • Thick mouthfeel

The Bad

  • Difficult to find for some

A little background

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a product from Heaven Hill Distillery. Named after the founder of bourbon, Reverend Elijah Craig, this whiskey packs a 12 year age statement and is 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 batch for 2020. Let’s take a closer look at the batch name. In C920, the “C” denotes that it is the third batch of the year, “9” is the month that it was released in (September), and “20” signifies the year it was released in. This batch clocks in at a 132.8 proof, and can be found in stores for around a $60 MSRP.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Mahogany

Nose

Dried cherries, orange marmalade, egg yolk, sugar cookie dough, and caramel.

Palate

A viscous flavor bomb! Brown sugar, milk chocolate, simple syrup, dark red fruit, and a hint of smoke. Delicious!

Finish

Long with layers of dusty dark cocoa, caramel, vanilla, simple syrup, cinnamon, and a touch of orange citrus.

In closing

Wow, Heaven Hill has done it again with another fantastic Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release. Batch C920 is big and rich with a beautiful flavor profile. The mouthfeel is wonderfully thick and viscus. There is an awesome sugar cookie component that’s accompanied by chocolate on the palate that evolves into dusty cocoa on the finish. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is an incredible value and consistently one of my favorite releases. I’d recommend buying one for now and a second for later!

The sample for this review was provided by Heaven Hill Distillery with no strings attached. We thank them for the opportunity to try this bourbon.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C920

132.8 Proof
9.1

Complexity

9.0/10

Nose

8.9/10

Palate

9.2/10

Finish

9.0/10

Value

9.5/10

The Good

  • Flavor profile
  • Thick mouthfeel

The Bad

  • Difficult to find for some
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Bourbon Elijah Craig Review

Every bottle on Whiskey Consensus is evaluated across five categories on a 1–100 scale. The five scores are averaged to produce a final overall score out of 10.

Nose
Aroma, complexity & first impressions
Palate
Flavor, balance & mouthfeel
Finish
Length, character & quality
Complexity
Depth, layers & evolution in the glass
Value
Quality relative to retail price
Score Rating What It Means
9.5 – 10.0ExceptionalOne for the history books
9.0 – 9.4OutstandingA benchmark expression
8.5 – 8.9GreatSeek this bottle out
8.0 – 8.4Very GoodAbove average in every way
7.5 – 7.9GoodWorth your money
7.0 – 7.4Above AverageA solid everyday pour
6.5 – 6.9AverageUnremarkable but drinkable
6.0 – 6.4Below AverageHard to recommend
5.5 – 5.9Hard PassBetter options at this price
0.0 – 5.4AvoidNot worth your time or money
Matthew Evans
About the Author
Matthew Evans
Whiskey Reviewer · Whiskey Consensus  · 538 posts

Matthew is the founder and visionary behind Whiskey Consensus. What began as a project to explore the Instagram platform and share a love for whiskey has evolved into so much more. Professionally, Matthew works in digital marketing as a solutions engineer and sales leader, bringing innovative strategies to the table. Outside of work, Matthew is an avid runner, as well as a car and watch enthusiast. He is also deeply committed to giving back to the community through various volunteer responsibilities.

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