🥃 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Cask-strength Elijah Craig bourbon: undiluted and not chill-filtered, usually 12 years old; released in batches since 2013.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is a bourbon from the Elijah Craig brand, bottled straight from the barrel without dilution with water. It is not chill-filtered. The strength varies from batch to batch: the batch table on the brand's website ranges from 118.2 to 140.2 proof, or roughly 59–70% ABV.
The table on the website starts with batch A313 (March 2013). According to The Bourbon Culture, the bourbon is released three times a year, and the 12-year age statement was kept after the 2017 redesign. Most batches are indeed 12 years old, but the brand's website also lists exceptions from 9 to 13 years. The batch name contains a letter and a release date, for example A123.
Why this matters to you. This is the strongest permanent bourbon of the brand, so compare it with Elijah Craig Small Batch allowing for the difference in strength. Check the batch number, because age and strength vary. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe dose of alcohol.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 118.2–140.2 proof (about 59–70% ABV), depending on the batch |
|---|---|
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels |
| Minimum maturation | mostly 12 years; some batches 9–13 years |
| Year founded | 2013 (first batch in the table is A313) |
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (US), Kentucky Straight Bourbon |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof → kind of → 🥃 Whisky → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Barrel toasting
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Elijah Craig, 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength, 🥃 Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel, 🥃 Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel, 🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch, 🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that all Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches are 12 years old?
Mostly, but not all: the brand's website table includes batches from 9 to 13 years.
What is the strength of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof?
It varies by batch: from 118.2 to 140.2 proof, or roughly 59–70% ABV.
How often is Barrel Proof released?
According to The Bourbon Culture, three times a year since 2013; the brand's website notes that there is no fixed schedule.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Barrel toasting — Heating the inside of a barrel over fire; the degree of toast shapes the wine's taste.
- 🥃 Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel — The oldest permanent Elijah Craig version: a Kentucky bourbon from a single barrel aged 18 years; 45% ABV (90 proof); first released in 1994.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
- 🥃 Maker's Mark Cask Strength — Barrel-proof Maker's Mark: 107–114 proof depending on the batch, at least seven years, small batches.
Similar
🥃 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel · 🥃 Elijah Craig Small Batch · 🥃 Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel · 🥃 Elijah Craig Straight Rye · 🥃 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch · 🥃 Old Forester 100 Proof
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Elijah Craig: Barrel Proof (uncut, straight from the barrel, without chill filtering; batch table from A313, March 2013; mostly 12-year age statement; 118.2–140.2 proof)
- The Bourbon Culture: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch 12 review (16.11.2021; released three times a year since 2013; 12-year age statement kept in the 2017 redesign)
- The Daily Pour: Elijah Craig 12 Year Barrel Proof Batch A123 (62.8 %; 12 years; first of three releases in 2023)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 Whisky — standards of identity (USA, TTB): bourbon, rye, straight; text via Cornell LII
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)