Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Elijah Craig. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review. It should also be noted that by clicking the buy link towards the bottom of this review our site receives a small referral payment which helps to support, but not influence, our editorial and other costs.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon C922 is the latest expression to be released from the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof editions 2022 series.
The Elijah Craig Barrel Proof series started in 2013, releasing three batches every year. The batch number on the label signifies the release order along with the month and year of each edition. Batch number C922, which this review focuses on, was bottled at 124.8 proof (62.4% ABV). It is the third and final edition of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon for 2022 and is the highest proof of the series this year.
Similar to its predecessors, it was aged for 12 years and is bottled uncut without chill filtration. Batch number A122 was the first batch from this year and was bottled at 120.8 proof. Bottled at 121.0 proof was the second batch from this year, batch number B522. Each new release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof editions will be added to the elijahcraig.com website.
Before becoming an esteemed distiller, Elijah Craig was a Baptist preacher, an educator, and an entrepreneur who built the first paper and wool mills in Georgetown, Kentucky. Allegedly, an accidental fire in 1789 charred the barrels Craig used to craft some of his first whiskeys. As a result, Elijah Craig is said to have become the first to use new charred oak barrels to age whiskey, hence the imprint of 1789 on each bottle and the reason why he’s known as the Father of Bourbon.
Today Elijah Craig whiskey is produced by the Heaven Hill Distillery headquartered in Bardstown, Kentucky. Heaven Hill is an independent, family-owned company that was founded in 1935. Their Bernheim Distillery, located in the historic downtown of Louisville, Kentucky, has the distinction of being the largest independent, family-owned distillery in the world.
Some awards and distinctions won by Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Whiskey include the 2017 Whiskey of the Year in the Whiskey Advocate, earning 95 points while being deemed Extraordinary in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2018, and earning a Double Gold Medal in the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Tasting Notes: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon C922
Vital Stats: 12 years old, non-chill filtered, 124.8 proof (62.4% ABV), 750 ml MSRP $69.99 distilled and bottled by the Elijah Craig Distillery Co., Bardstown, KY.
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Appearance: Deep auburn.
Nose: The initial low burn on the nose allows for so many flavor notes to shine through. It has a sweet, smoky and robust oak character, along with herbaceous soft, oiled leather notes. There was the slightest hint of coconut, reminiscent of sun tan oil.
Palate: The palate has warm spicy notes of rich caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch followed closely by toasted cinnamon apple, orange, green peppercorn, and roasted chestnut. The decadent cigar and molasses notes on the palate round this whiskey out nicely.
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