Food and Wine reported on Saturday that Elijah Craig’s most recent barrel-proof bourbon made headlines with its age statement of 11 years and 6 months, making it the oldest release since 2023.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B525 clocks in at a respectable 126.2 proof and stems from Heaven Hill’s mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley.
The 2023 release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon made waves with its older age statement. Before that year, Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon always implemented a 12-year age statement. The whiskey powerhouse removed that, which worried bourbon and whiskey fans at the time.
Redditors on the Bourbon thread lamented that such a move would signify a shift towards younger whiskeys.
“This seemed inevitable with the 8-11 store picks rolling out,” a Redditor claimed. “On the surface not a big deal except they’ll charge the same or more for younger stuff.”
Heaven Hill surprised skeptics and fans alike with the brand’s 2023 release, C923. The boundary-breaking bourbon dazzled critics and possessed a robust age statement of 13 years and 7 months.
Though Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B525 is just a couple of years shy of C923, its age statement is the highest since that release. This bourbon has a suggested retail price of $75.
In an interview with Food and Wine, Heaven Hill Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll claimed that B525 is full of “toasted oak with dried fruits.” Dark chocolate and butterscotch flavors dominate the pour, and it segues to a finish full of marmalade, honey and spicy pepper.
2025: A Pivotal Year for Heaven Hill
This marks the latest release from Heaven Hill as the whiskey brand ramps up for its 90th Anniversary.
On Thursday, Heaven Hill revealed a new initiative alongside the launch of its second bourbon within its grain-to-glass series. Dubbed Family Farms First, the initiative involves a partnership with Farm Rescue. Farm Rescue is a nonprofit that offers help to families working in American agriculture.
“Farm Rescue’s mission is to keep family farms in tact during times of crisis,” Founder and President of Farm Rescue Bill Gross expressed in a statement. “Family farms, which make up 97% of US farms, are vital to sustaining our communities and future. Our collaboration with Heaven Hill Grain to Glass will bolster our ability to provide essential support to more farm families, ensuring they can continue their operations and sustain their livelihoods.”
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