Toasted caramel | Heavy charred oak | Toasted brown sugar | Faint vanilla | Baking spices | Leather | Classic, pleasing aroma

Sugared plum | Rye spice | Baking spices | Brown sugar | Cinnamon stick | Toasted oak | Delicious

Rye spice | Chewy charred oak | Leather | Faint caramel | Light baking spices | Gentle fading heat

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B525 is the second of three batches planned for 2025, with “B” signifying the second batch of the year, “5” standing for its May release month, and “25” identifying the year of the release. While Batch A125 was under 11 years old, Batch B returns the brand to near its former 12 year age statement and is the highest age stated release since Batch C923 was released.

For the second edition of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon, Heaven Hill goes back to basics in providing a classic bourbon flavor profile. The sip starts with a pleasing aroma of toasted and brown sugar, along with heavy charred oak, leather, and baking spices. Many of these flavors carry over to the delicious midpoint, which also introduces a sweet sugared plum note for intrigue. The bourbon rounds out with the same troop of classic flavor notes and proceeds to linger in the form of a gentle, pleasing heat.

Batch B525 is a significant step up from Batch A125, which was released at the beginning of the year. The classic flavor profile leans into its age but never comes across as being over-oaked. Instead, the bourbon utilizes its 126.2 proof points to pull forward and highlight each of its flavor notes, which work together nicely and never try to outdo one another. While it doesn’t quite reach the same level that Batch C923 did, which we named our #1 Whiskey of the Year in 2023, it is the best Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release since then. This is a release that barrel proof bourbon lovers will want to seek out.