.jpg)
Released in September of 2025, Batch A925 (A for the first batch of the year, 9 for September, and 25 for 2025) is the first mass market release for Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye. There had been a previous distillery exclusive bottling of the Rye Barrel Proof (Y725 - 132 proof NAS) which was much higher alcohol and closer to the 2026 A batch that has just started rolling out. I had the pleasure to try Y725 which was good, but I ended up taking home the ECBP Bourbon. Heaven Hill plans to roll out three batches of ECBP rye each year alongside the bourbon releases. In the months since its launch, Whiskey Advocate has named Batch A925 its "2025 Whiskey of the Year".
“As Whiskey fans know, barrel proof is kind of like that famous box of chocolates, in not knowing what you’re going to get until the barrel dumps. In this instance, we got a 108 proof treat that drinks bolder than its number would suggest.” - Conor O'Driscoll, Master Distiller, Elijah Craig Bourbon
While I remember some groans from the proof hounds, a barrel proof sleeper is right up my alley!
🛒Sourced: $69.99 at Paces Bottle Shop, GA - 750ml. Pricing in your market should be similar to the ECBP bourbon.
🧪Proof: 108 proof, 54% ABV - Very low for an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Product
🎨Color: R4 - amber sunset, very leggy
🥔Mash Bill & Production: 51% rye, 35% corn, 14% malted barley. Heaven Hill's "barely legal" rye mash bill is also used in the Pikeville and Rittenhouse ryes brands. The age of the youngest barrel in the batch was 12 years and 8 months.
There must have been a decent number of low floor barrels in this batch for the proof to have fallen this much. Lower floors are typically more humid, meaning that more ethanol evaporates than water thus lowering the proof. Barrel entry proof was 125, so this represents 17 point decline over the 12 years.
A drop in proof is associated with increased water soluble compounds as a relative percentage of the final product, increasing sweetness from wood sugars while reducing tannic bitterness. Increased oxidation often accompanies lower proof as well which may bring out more ester fruitiness.
👃Nose: Very approachable, semi-sweet, and floral. Honeysuckle, ripe vine, white pepper, and rye spice. There is a solid base of dry old oak which is somewhat uncommon for a rye in my experience.
😜Palate: Decent thickness, creamier than most ryes (but this is just barely rye), even and balanced on the tongue with just the smallest amount of comforting warmth. I get candied dates, persimmons, anise, and allspice. There is a subtle leathery backing throughout which provides a nice early backdrop to the dancing fruit and spice. What begins fairly dry transitions to more sweetness at the finish.
💦Finish: Long, spice heavy, a the comforting warmth lingers. Some floral aspects are mingled with the spices but it's hard to quite make them out discretely.
🏆 Overall: 8/10 - Excellent - The experts aren't wrong, this is one heck of a bottle! Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye A925 executes fantastically on a barely rye mash, providing plenty of funky botanical nonsense while having some creamy sweetness from corn. Bourbon lovers rejoice. I was struck by how similar it is to Rittenhouse BiB, a step improvement on pretty much every level (you would hope so at almost triple the price for ECBP).
💵Would buy again? Yes, though good luck finding more of these. People seem to have caught on that they're exquisite. I really do hope they do more of these low floor / lower abv releases instead of just trying to compete directly with Jack Daniels Barrel Proof Ryes more around 130.
⚖️Rating Scale:
2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume it by choice.
3 | Bad | Multiple flaws | Struggle to get through the bottle
4 | Serviceable | Mixing or ice recommended.
5 | Good | Drinkable Neat | An agreeable dram indeed.
6 | Very Good | Any flaws offset by interesting flavors | A cut above.
7 | Great | You find yourself reaching for this one often | Well above average.
8 | Excellent | Serve to Impress Guests | Really quite exceptional.
9 | Incredible | An all time favorite | You guard this bottle jealously
🙈Blind Tastings:
- 5/29/26 - ECBP Rye A925 (this Bottle) > Rittenhouse Rye > Bardstown Bourbon Co. Origin Rye