Elijah Craig Barrel Select
Overall Score: 6/10
Overall Value: 1.75/5
Distillery: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Company: Elijah Craig Distillery Co. (Heaven Hill)
Release Date: Ongoing (Distillery Only)
Proof: 125
Age: 8 Years
Color: Lite Honey
MSRP: $45 (2025)
Mashbill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye
The Barrel Bros’ Review
The nose on this Elijah Craig Barrel Select is heavy on corn and grain—surprisingly reminiscent of a wheated bourbon. After a few sips, hints of caramel, brown sugar, and tart cherry start to show up, alongside vanilla fudge and a touch of pecan.
Unfortunately, the sharp alcohol edge is hard to ignore, giving it more heat than depth.
At 125 proof, the heat dominates. There’s a flash of caramel apple and cinnamon sweetness that could’ve made for a great pour, but it’s buried under an aggressive alcohol bite. The mouthfeel is decently full, but the balance just isn’t there. It’s missing the rich, layered sweetness found in better Elijah Craig releases like the Barrel Proof line.
The finish carries over the same sharp heat, with lingering cinnamon, char, and oak. The mouth-drying burn overpowers the otherwise interesting dessert-like notes.
While the Elijah Craig Barrel Select “Grenade” bottle is a cool collectible and fun to pour for the novelty, the whiskey inside doesn’t quite live up to its presentation or proof. It drinks hot, youthy, and one-dimensional. At its current MSRP, it’s more of a souvenir than a serious pour—something to keep sealed rather than chase on sale.
If you’re looking for specific notes from our Barrel Bros, read their individual reviews below!
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Individual Reviews
The Rye Guy Says
Score: 6.5/10
Value: 2/5
THE NOSE:
Vanilla Fudge, and a bit of pecan. The proof does make itself known.
I also got a bit of sweet cinnamon.
THE TASTE:
The profile reminds me of a green apple caramel sucker, but the amount of alcohol burn on the tongue really kills the enjoyment.
The cinnamon profile from the nose remains, which actually works pretty well with the other flavors.
THE FINISH:
More cinnamon and burn with a mouth-numbing effect.
BUY OR PASS?
The flavor that is present is not bad, but the whole experience is overwhelmed by heat and burn making it feel youthy and unrefined. Feels pretty gimmicky, so better to buy and never open. Keep as a souvenir.
The Hunter Says
Score: 5.5/10
Value: 1.5/5
THE NOSE:
This one smells very grainy—almost like a wheated bourbon, even though it’s not.
What stands out the most is the corn. Seriously, it might be the strongest corn note I’ve ever picked up in a bourbon.
After taking a sip and coming back to it, I can find a little caramel and brown sugar, maybe even a hint of tart cherry.
But there’s also a sharp alcohol edge that takes away from the experience. It’s fine, but not something that makes me want to keep going back to smell it.
THE TASTE:
It starts out with a soft sweetness and feels pretty full in the mouth, which I like. It kind of reminds me of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof—but just barely.
It’s like a shadow of those better batches, but none of the rich flavors come through very strong, but the proof definitely does.
Unfortunately, there’s just not much else happening.
THE FINISH:
The finish is all heavy char and proof.
It dries out the mouth quickly and leaves behind a burnt oak flavor that lingers longer than it should.
It’s not a pleasant linger, either.
BUY OR PASS?
These distillery-only “grenade” bottles feel more like a way to offload mediocre barrels than something special. There’s nothing truly awful here, but also nothing I’d ever reach for again.
With so many great Elijah Craig releases out there—especially the Barrel Proof line—this one just doesn’t come close. It’s a one-and-done pour for me.
