Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524 is a Kentucky straight bourbon aged for 11 years and 2 months and bottled at 130.6 proof. The mashbill consists of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye. Released three times a year since 2013, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches now carry specific age statements instead of the previous 12-year standard. Batch B524 is the fourth release with a detailed age statement on its label and hosts a suggested retail price of $75.
While spicy and quite warm on the finish, the explosion of fruit helps to temper the whiskey’s innate heat and offers a seasonally friendly flavor profile that works well both as a solo sipper or in an Old Fashioned or even a punchy whiskey sour.
If you happen across a bottle (especially at suggested retail pricing), open, share, and compare with previous batches. The variation here is half the fun.
Having tasted many Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings over the years, Batch B524 is one of the most hearty reviewed. It packs a powerful, flavorful punch and is exceptionally well-balanced and noteworthy. It is an instant classic in the series.
This batch, to me, feels like it’s on the verge of breaking through into more compelling territory, either by becoming a big, bold flavor bomb or showcasing deeper complexity, but it then stops just short of reaching that next level.
