Description
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Batch #B526 is a Kentucky straight rye bottled uncut and unfiltered at full cask strength — a rare barrel-proof turn from a name most drinkers know for bourbon, aimed at the rye enthusiast who wants Heaven Hill depth without dilution.
Process & Profile
Batch B526 was released in May 2026, aged 10 years and 8 months, and bottled at 115.6 proof (57.8% ABV) with no chill filtration. The batch code tells its own story in Heaven Hill’s system: B is the second batch of the year, 5 the month of May, 26 the year. The Elijah Craig name honors Reverend Elijah Craig, the Baptist minister long folded into bourbon folklore as the man who first aged whiskey in charred oak barrels — a legend Heaven Hill, the largest family-owned distillery in Kentucky, has carried on the label for decades. Because each barrel-proof batch is bottled straight from the barrel, proof and character shift release to release.
On the nose, baking spice, sweet molasses, and toasted oak.
On the palate, it is layered and balanced, with stewed fruit, cinnamon, and nutmeg carried by the high proof.
The finish runs long and warming, closing on lingering rye spice and a note of butterscotch.
Where the flagship 94-proof rye is an everyday pour, this uncut version at nearly 116 proof is built for the drinker who wants the barrel’s full weight and the leeway to open it with water on their own terms.
Serve neat, then add a few drops of water to draw out the fruit and spice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this whiskey?
A cask-strength, non-chill-filtered Kentucky straight rye from Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig line, released as Batch B526.
What are the specs?
115.6 proof (57.8% ABV), aged 10 years 8 months, non-chill filtered, 750mL, released May 2026.
What does it taste like?
Baking spice, molasses, and toasted oak on the nose; stewed fruit, cinnamon, and nutmeg on the palate; a long butterscotch-and-rye-spice finish.
How should you enjoy it?
Neat, with a few drops of water to open it up.
Why is this release notable?
It is a limited barrel-proof, non-chill-filtered rye with a genuine 10-year-8-month age statement.
