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 packs a 12 year age statement and is bottled at barrel proof without chill filtration. Three batches are put out every year, and this particular one is the second for 2022. Taking a closer look at the name C922, the “C” denotes that it is the third batch of the year, “9” is the month that it was released in (September), and “22” signifies the year it was released in. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922 is bottled at 124.8 Proof (62.4% ABV) and has a retail price of around $69.95 USD.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Burnish

Nose

Cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, oak, vanilla, gingerbread, and peanut brittle.

Palate

Baking spice, cinnamon, burnt caramel, and oak.

Finish

Cinnamon, tobacco, toasted caramel, and oak.

In closing

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is consistently a fantastic Bourbon release and batch C922 is no exception. In fact, this is one of my favorite batches in recent years. At 124.8 Proof, it’s the highest Proof since the September 2020 batch of C920, which was released at 132.8 Proof. C922 starts off with a classic Bourbon nose filled with cinnamon, caramel, and an interesting gingerbread note. The palate is big, rich, buttery and o-so viscous! Many of the tasting notes are present throughout, leading into the enjoyable long finish. To no surprise, Heaven Hill has done it again with a truly amazing release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C922. This is an outstanding Bourbon!

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.