Review #528 - Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924

Heaven Hill's tri-annual Elijah Craig release - the Barrel Proof bourbon, a bottling which arrives in January, May, and September annually. This is the final release from 2024: Batch C924. It carries an age statement of 11 years (below the previous standard of 12 years before batch B523); the proof in this instance is a solid 129 (64.5% ABV).

In order to deliver full flavor in the Barrel Proof offerings, Heaven Hill has decided not to chill filter the bourbon, either, leaving all of the flavorful oils in the spirit intact.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924

USA - Bourbon

Price: USD 75 (2025)

Age Statement: 11 Years

Strength: 64.5% ABV

Details: Not chill filtered; batch C924

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 40% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Desserts - caramel turtles, arroz con leche. There's a dry peanut shell scent, and then we get some spicy oak, full of cinnamon, too. It's quite rich.

Palate: A thick mouthfeel, quite spicy and drying. Oak is strong, and we get the cinnamon like we did on the nose; behind that, subtle medicinal cherry lingers, maybe some tart cherry juice too. Brown sugar brings some sweetness, and it's a bit hot.

Finish: Cinnamon and cherries again - quite cohesive from one part of the tasting to the next. Still spicy with the oak, and red fruit grows stronger; it leans dry instead of sweet, and it isn't the most complex finish, but it lingers nicely.

Final Note: A solid batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - this one was quite spicy overall, but that was nicely balanced by cherry notes. We do enjoy the batches with some red fruit flavor; the sweeter dessert scents on the nose were good, too.

Value is good, as usual with these barrel proof offerings from Heaven Hill - this brand still represents one of the better entries for barrel proof bourbon with a solid age statement.

Our Average Rating: 8.0 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 7.59

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.