Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C925 Review
“Barrel Proof Series”
Time to dive into an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C925 review! I loved the B525 so let’s see how this one compares. Right off the bat, C925 is potentially at a disadvantage due to it having the youngest age statement of all ECBP ever! It clocks in with an age of 9 years 1 month. However, that is the youngest whiskey in the bottle so there could be some older age stated bourbon mixed in as well.
For comparison, batch A525 had the second lowest age statement (next to C925) at 10 years, 7 months. So 2025 served us the two lowest aged stated ECBP ever released. And even though batch B525 was lower than the previous ECBP standard 12 year statement (it was 11 years, 6 months), it was quite a bit more complex and flavorful than these younger batches the Heaven Hill has released. It seems to be a clear indication that the age of the bourbon in the bottle has a significant impact on quality and complexity of flavor (is anyone surprised by that?!!).
Series: Annual Barrel Proof series, Batch 3 of 3
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Age: 9 years, 1 month
Proof: 129.0
Batch Designation: Small Batch
Proof Designation: Barrel Proof
Filtered Status: Non-Chill Filtered
Mash bill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
Barrel Char Level: 3
Barrel Entry Proof: 125
Still Type: Column Still
Distillate Source: Heaven Hill
Distillery: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Company: Heaven Hill
Bottled By: Elijah Craig Distillery
Distilled/Aging Location: Bardstown, Kentucky
Master Distiller: Conor O’Driscoll
Release Date: September 2025
MSRP: $75
Secondary Market: $99 – $120
Availability: Relatively Available
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C925 Review
January 14, 2026
My tasting reviews are unique in that I include the notes of several well-known whiskey critics. The hope is that this format will help me and others to explore and expand their tasting experience. After you have taken your own tasting notes, read the reviews and see if there is a flavor note that others discerned that now you can detect as well.
For this tasting: Fresh crack, Glencairn Glass, Neat, Room Temp, Breathe: 5 minutes
Legs
Beads form on the crown at about 5 seconds, the legs begin to drop at about 21 seconds, and the first legs reach the bowl at about 45 seconds.
Nose
Dark caramel, vanilla, fig, hint of orange peel, toasted marshmallow, hint of chocolate, leather, baking spices, barrel char, mild molasses.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Brown butter, brown sugar, almost some peanut butter, some pecan, faint hint of cherry, baking spices, some oak. It is a very typical ECBP nose.
Breaking Bourbon: Apple chip | Brown sugar | Oak chips | Light vanilla | Faint strudel
Bourbon Banter: Caramel with toasted oak, fruit notes of apple and orange.
Palate
Dark caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, fig, some cherry, cinnamon, black pepper, a little peanut, apple, leather, barrel char, oak.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Not as sweet as I was hoping on the palate. It is more oak driven, more of that Heaven Hill nuttiness profile. Tons of red hot candy. Your vanilla and caramels are here, but they are almost taken over by the astringency and oak tannins. It’s a little bit drying. The oak is pretty forward.
Second sip folds into more honey, almost a cracker jack…caramel corn flavor profile. This one has some sharp edges around it. It’s not super refined. I feel like I’m missing some that signature ECBP sweetness.
Breaking Bourbon: Brown sugar | Raisin | Light syrup | Cinnamon stick | Baking spices | Charred oak | Light leather
Bourbon Banter: A single sip sees honey, caramel and vanilla coat the palate with a little cayenne. A second sip delivers oak, black pepper and clove and leaves the mouth buzzing and eager for more. A third take is hard cherry candy up front and a little molasses and oak smoke in the back.
Rich vanilla, caramel and butterscotch along with spices of black pepper and cinnamon at the back of the palate.
Finish
Medium-long finish with caramel, leather, vanilla, .barrel char, baking spices.
Other Reviewer’s Perceptions
Mash & Drum: Rye
Breaking Bourbon: Brown sugar | Cinnamon spice | Dry oak | Leather | Dry lingering spice
Bourbon Banter:: Nicely layered showcasing all flavors, fades slowly then lingers as it cools. The finish is warm, tingling and pleasant.
Mouthfeel
The mouthfeel Creamy. It is pleasantly viscous with some spice punching through and finishing dry.
Mouthfeel Rating Guide: Thin = Watery | Silken = smooth & slippery, but not mouth coating | Creamy = coats the tongue like heavy cream does. | Rich or Unctuous = coats the entire palate like quality olive oil
The Burn
The alcohol burn is Low. This means that the burn from the alcohol is a bit lower (5% to 9%) than what I would expect it to be. I would guess this to be around 120 – 125 proof, not 129 proof.
The Burn Rating Guide:
Very Low = it drinks like it is a much lower proof
Low = it drinks like it is a little lower proof
Average = the heat is about what I would expect
Hot = it is hotter than what I would expect
Scorching! = it drinks much hotter than what I would expect
Tasting Summary
Sweet flavors and barrel char hit the palate first with dark caramel, brown sugar and vanilla contrasted with barrel char, oak and leather. Some baking spices follow. Darker flavors dominate this pour (which I like!). It isn’t super complex but the flavors are balanced and enjoyable, with a pleasant mouthfeel and fairly long finish.
For the price, this is an excellent value and a good pour. Having said that, I do like B525 better
My Rating – 7.9
The higher the score the better the whiskey is in my opinion. For reference, my best rated bottle so far is the George T. Stagg 2022 (138.7p) with a score of 9.7.
| Score Type | Score | Examples |
| Likability Score | 7.9 | 1.0 – 10.0 |
My Tasting Notes
A blank version of this tasting notes wheel is available in both a color and a black & white version in the member’s area.
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