Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Awards
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Awards

Elijah Craig Barrel Private Barrel, The Bartender's Choice Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (60.5% ABV)

$249.00
(5.0)
Overview

Private barrel selection. 126 bottles total.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is the boldest expression in the Elijah Craig range, bottled straight from the barrel without chill filtering or dilution. This is a private barrel selection made by Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, aged 10 years and bottled at 60.5% ABV. Unapologetically full-flavoured, with the depth and intensity that only comes from a decade in the barrel at full proof.

Named Whisky Advocate Whiskey of the Year in both 2017 and 2020. One of the most decorated barrel-proof bourbons in the world.

Product Details
Attribute Detail
Brand Elijah Craig
Producer Heaven Hill Distillery
Country / Region USA, Bardstown, Kentucky
Style Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (Barrel Proof)
Age Statement 10 Years
ABV 60.5% (121 Proof)
Cask Type New charred American oak
Filtration Unfiltered, unchill-filtered
Bottle Size 750ml
Release Type Private barrel selection, 126 bottles only
Tasting Notes

Nose: Dark caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, baking spice and dark fruit.

Palate: Full-bodied, bold and intense, with toffee, roasted nuts, cinnamon, dark chocolate and oak. Despite the high proof, it's remarkably balanced.

Finish: Long and warming, with lingering sweetness and spice.

What sets this bottle apart
  • Private barrel selection: only 126 bottles ever produced from this barrel
  • Bottled at full barrel proof (60.5% ABV), unfiltered and undiluted
  • 10 years aged at Heaven Hill, one of the US's largest independent family-owned distilleries
  • Named Whisky Advocate Whiskey of the Year twice: 2017 and 2020
  • Each private barrel is unique: no two barrels taste exactly the same
Distillery Information

Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky is one of the largest independent family-owned distilleries in the United States. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is named after the 18th-century Baptist minister credited with first ageing whiskey in charred oak barrels, a practice that defines bourbon to this day. The barrel proof expression is released in three batches per year, each bottled at the natural proof of the barrels selected, with no water added and no chill filtration.

Awards & Recognition

  • Whiskey of the Year, Whisky Advocate, 2017 and 2020
  • 95 Points, Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018
  • Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017
  • Best Small Batch Bourbon, World Whiskies Award
  • Top 20 Whiskies of the Year, Whisky Advocate (multiple years)

Who this bottle is for
  • Barrel-proof bourbon drinkers who want the full, uncut experience
  • Collectors after a genuinely limited private barrel release
  • Elijah Craig fans wanting to step up from the standard expressions
  • Anyone who appreciates a twice Whiskey of the Year bourbon at full proof
How to enjoy

  • Best neat to get the full barrel proof character
  • A splash of water opens up the fruit and spice considerably at this proof
  • Worth taking your time with: let it breathe in the glass before the first sip

Why we curate it

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is one of the most consistently decorated barrel-proof bourbons in the world, and this private barrel selection takes it a step further. 126 bottles, one barrel, full proof. The kind of release that earns its place on the shelf without needing to shout about it.