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Since debuting in 2013, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon has become one of American whiskey’s most beloved bottles — and one of Heaven Hill’s hallmark products. Generally released thrice per year, it’s recognized as a bold, flavorful drink that fans can reliably find, bottled uncut and unfiltered for maximum impact. Age-wise, this year’s third and final batch is a slight variation from the usual.
Like all Elijah Craig bourbons, the whiskey begins with Heaven Hill’s standard mash bill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye (often called “HH Reg”). After aging, the Kentucky straight bourbon is bottled at batch proof, typically between 118 and 136 proof, though it can occasionally exceed 70% alcohol by volume.
Between 2013 and 2023, the barrel proof bourbon consistently carried a 12-year age statement on the label, indicating the youngest whiskey in each batch was at least a dozen years old. In mid-2023, Heaven Hill shifted to more precise age statements, which could land both above or below the 12-year mark. The first release after this change was Batch B523, which came in at 11 years and 5 months old. The following release was Batch C923, which bore the line’s oldest-ever age statement at 13 years and 7 months. Since then, ages have generally settled into the 11-year mark, give or take six months.
Fast Facts: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C925
Production and maturation: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon is made from a mash bill consisting of 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye. Batch C925 was aged for 9 years and 1 month before being bottled at an uncut, non-chill-filtered 129 proof.
MSRP and availability: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon is available nationwide at a suggested retail price of about $75, which has stayed fairly consistent in recent years.
The third and final batch for 2025 features the youngest age statement we’ve ever seen from Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: 9 years and 1 month. It’s dubbed Batch C925, named for the release number (“C”), release month (“9” for September), and year (“25”). The bourbon, bottled at a hefty 129 proof, is the strongest ECBP this year.
Heaven Hill master distiller Conor O’Driscoll says that while C925 may be comparatively young, he hopes drinkers judge based on quality, not just the age statement. “It’s all par for the course for our fans, who know that Barrel Proof age and proof vary from edition to edition,” O’Driscoll tells Food & Wine. “That’s part of the fun and the adventure, for them and for us. We let the whiskey tell us when it’s ready and once you try this release, you’ll understand. What never varies with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is consistency of quality, owing to the stringent selection process our master tasters have adhered to for more than a decade.”
Additionally, O’Driscoll emphasized that because bourbon barrels age at different rates, the optimal time for bottling will vary from batch to batch. “Though just slightly young by our traditional Barrel Proof standards, our proprietary aging process can bring certain barrels to a peak balance of flavor and character sooner than expected. Such is the case here.”
Brand tasting notes describe Batch C925 as “bold yet refined,” with notes of warm vanilla, caramel, and light char that the expression is often known for.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon C925 will be available nationwide starting September 2025. Its suggested retail price is $75.
