Elijah Craig A925 12 Year Old Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey

Elijah Craig A925 12 Year Old Barrel Proof Rye is a monumental release powerful, deeply spiced, and exceptionally layered. Bottled straight from the barrel, it delivers enormous concentration while retaining the signature elegance of Elijah Craigs rye style. Its acclaim reached a peak when Whisky Advocate named it the Best Whisky of 2025, a distinction that underscores just how extraordinary this bottling truly is.

One bottle per order, please.

Note: Like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon, this one will be released in batches, three times a year: in January, May, and September, labeled as Batches A, B, and C. This whiskey is Batch A925 because it’s the inaugural release from September 2025, but starting next year we’ll see them labeled in that order.

Origins & Craftsmanship

This special 12-year-old rye showcases the craftsmanship of Heaven Hills distillers, who have long been celebrated for their rye whiskey expertise.

Key production details:

• Mashbill: A high-rye foundation enriched by long maturation

• Barrel Proof: Bottled at full strength, preserving natural oils, texture, and aromatics

• 12-Year Aging: Matured in new, deeply charred American oak barrels, allowing spice, caramel, and oak to develop profound integration

• Batch A925: Crafted with meticulous barrel selection to achieve exceptional balance, intensity, and flavor purity

The result is a rye whiskey that is not only powerful, but refined showing poise, structure, and complexity far beyond typical barrel-proof releases.

Critics Reviews

Professional reviewers across the industry have praised A925 for:

• Its remarkable depth and precision, balancing rye spice with mature sweetness

• A luxurious mouthfeel, often described as silky despite the high proof

• Exceptional integration of oak, spice, and fruit developed during its extended aging period

• Outstanding craftsmanship, leading Whisky Advocate to honor it as the Best Whisky of 2025, a title awarded to only one standout bottling each year

• “Readers may recall that Elijah Craig Barrel Proof bourbon was our Whisky of the Year in 2017. Unlike its bourbon counterpart, which was bottled at 62.1% ABV, this barrel proof rye is at just 54%. And with a mashbill comprised of 51% ryethe so-called “Kentucky style”it’s also no spice bomb. Yet it’s a whiskey with a big, robust profile; a beautifully mature rye, aged just over 12 years, intensely flavored and with plenty of heat and spicy complexity. An inviting nose offers dark fruit, rye spice, and aged oak. The palate has dark flavors of licorice, chocolate, and stewed fruits, melding with lighter sweet notes of French toast and sweet lemon, all sprinkled with cinnamon, clove, and generous rye spice. The finish shows great integration of sweetness and spice, vanilla with prickly pepper, cinnamon, and ginger, all balanced superbly against the aged oak.” 96 Points, Whisky Advocate

The consensus among critics is clear: A925 represents one of the finest barrel-proof rye expressions ever released under the Elijah Craig name.

Tasting Profile

Nose:
Explosive aromas of cinnamon, clove, cracked pepper, dark caramel, dried cherry, and toasted oak. Subtle layers of orange zest, molasses, and vanilla bean add complexity.

Palate:
Full-bodied and intensely flavorful. Deep waves of rye spice, caramelized sugar, dark honey, tobacco leaf, and roasted pecan. The high proof magnifies richness while maintaining balance. Mid-palate notes of stewed fruit, cocoa, and charred oak develop with remarkable depth.

Finish:
Long, warm, and resonant. Lingering flavors of cinnamon bark, vanilla, peppery rye grain, cocoa, and sweet charred oak taper slowly, leaving a powerful yet elegant final impression.

Quick Overview