Distillery: Heaven Hill
Proof: 118.2
Age: 12 years
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Price: $90-$100
Company
Heaven Hill, located in Bardstown, is one of the most iconic bourbon distilleries out there—producing brands like Elijah Craig, Larceny, Evan Williams, Henry McKenna, Old Fitzgerald, and more.
Production
According to their site, each bottle of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is in its purest form: uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. The proof and taste vary based on which batch you get, but many say it’s a very reliable barrel proof that isn’t completely impossible to find.
Nose – 94/100
Deep caramel, vanilla, and oak with a touch of leather and toffee.
Palate – 93/100
Buttery with notes of burnt brown sugar and oak. A great balance of sweet and spicy with a lot of character.
Finish – 93/100
Long, dry finish with notes of leather and a touch of toffee that carries over from the nose.
Value – 91/100
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (batch B521) is a solid value. I got my bottle for $90 and it’s a very well-balanced barrel proof pour and is comparable in price to other barrel proof offerings.
The only issue is finding it! It’s generally easier to find than other barrel proof offerings, but that doesn’t mean much since most of the good ones are hard to find.
Verdict – 92.75/100
We score each bourbon based on nose, palate, finish, and value.
Scoring System:
- Platinum – 95+
- Gold – 90 – 94
- Silver – 80 – 89
- Bronze – <80
Hunter Branch is the Founder and Director of Editorial for Bourbon Inspector. He has been writing about and professionally reviewing bourbon since 2020 (and has been drinking it for much longer). He’s been able to interview big names in the bourbon industry like Trey Zoeller from Jefferson’s Bourbon and his work has been featured in publications like TastingTable, Mashed, and more.