Review: Elijah Craig Toasted Rye and Barrel Proof Batches C924 (September 2024) & A125 (January 2025)
Three new releases from Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig have crossed our desk in the last few months. We’re taking this opportunity to round them all up and review them together. Below please find our coverage of the two latest Elijah Craig Barrel Proof offerings, plus our first taste of a new permanent edition whiskey, Elijah Craig Toasted Rye.
Elijah Craig Toasted Rye Review
Elijah Craig’s Straight Rye (51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley) is just five years old, and now the brand is out with a follow-up that is finished in a toasted barrel. It starts with that same, fully matured rye whiskey, which is dumped at barrel proof into a second, custom toasted new oak barrel designed exclusively for this whiskey, in partnership with Independent Stave Company. Per the company: “At the end of the nearly hour long toasting process, a cap is placed on the barrel to quickly ramp up the heat to an extremely high temperature allowing phenols to embed in the surface of the barrel for an added element of smoke to complement the spice and sweetness of the Rye. Unlike many other finished whiskeys, this whiskey retains its status as a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey because the second finishing barrel is both new and charred.”
Tasted side by side against a fresh batch of Elijah Craig Straight Rye, some clear differences emerge. The Straight Rye is immediately sweeter and spicier on both nose and palate. As expected, the extra barrel time gives this whiskey a more aggressive woodiness, tempering both the sweeter elements and some of the more baking-oriented spices. The nose evokes notes of anise and fennel, plus a mix of well-toasted nuts. The palate takes on a somewhat austere quality that features echoes of the lumberyard, stripping out the chocolate and brown banana notes evident in the Straight Rye. The finish comes across as a little dusty, with sustained echoes of licorice and well-charred wood. It’s an interesting diversion from the standard bottling, but the Straight Rye, for my palate, is more nuanced and less reliant on the impact of the barrel. 94 proof. B+ / $55 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C924 (September 2024) Review
11 years, 0 months old. Once of the tamer and more straightforward expressions of ECBP I’ve encountered to date, this whiskey offers a wood-forward nose that’s quite toasty and oaky, almost beefy as it develops in the glass. Notes of cherry pits and anise add a slight nuance, but these fragrances are decidedly tame. The palate doesn’t surprise much, featuring a healthy slug of tannic oak, hazelnuts, and more anise. Caramel and vanilla build on the core once the initial rush of wood fades, but this is pretty slow going. I was however enticed by a raspberry note on the finish that makes for an interesting interplay with some otherwise heavy notes of black pepper. The lack of complexity here is a bit surprising for the series, but some drinkers may find that to their preference. 129 proof. B / $85 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT] [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A125 (January 2025) Review
10 years, 7 months old. Not just a relatively young whiskey, also a very low-abv one, at just 118.2 proof. It’s fashionable to hate on the lower abv whiskeys in a series like ECBP, but we encourage you to hold your judgment, because it’s a huge winner that you’d be remiss to skip. The nose plays it cool: like C924, a little leathery and beefy, heavy on the oak influence. Time in glass coaxes out additional aromas, albeit restrained: brown butter, sesame oil, and a grating of bittersweet blood orange peel. The palate is where this whiskey kicks things into high gear in delightful fashion: Bittersweet chocolate (though more sweet than bitter) dominates right away, then the whiskey takes a quick shift into the spice cabinet — cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla syrup, and brown butter — all sweetened just about perfectly. It’s not a particularly fruity whiskey, though notes of baked apple pie linger in an immersive and lengthy finish — along with some cloves and a bit of char. I don’t often hang on to the ECBP bottles after tasting them, but this one’s making it to the permanent collection (current companion: C922). 118.2 proof. A / $85 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT] [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
Elijah Craig Toasted Rye
USD55
