Overview: Heaven Hill has relaunched Elijah Craig’s Excellent Barrel Proof Bourbon and Rye following a series of updates to the release strategy. Published on November 6, 2026 by Jonah Flicker for Robb Report, the news details changes to the unique codes and production schedule for these barrel-proof expressions.
The Full Story
The latest edition has just arrived alongside the Barrel Proof Rye that was first introduced in 2025, but Heaven Hill has made a few changes to the way these whiskeys will be released in the future. Up until now, each batch had a four-digit code—this release would have been called C926 indicating it is the third batch of the year released in September of 2026 (provided it had actually been released in September). Now it’s called H-40, referring to August of this year (H is the eighth letter of the alphabet), and the 40th release overall. The month is more of an indication of when each batch was assembled, not the actual release date.
Likewise, the new Barrel Proof Rye is coded as H-04, referring to August and fourth release overall. That whiskey was aged for 10 years and bottled at 124.4 proof—the highest to date for the rye and the same as the bourbon, which is quite a coincidence. Technically speaking, a whiskey can be bottled at barrel proof as long as it is within two proof points from how it came out of the barrel, but the distillery says that was not done here.
Production & Profile
The bourbon clocks in at 12 years and eight months old and was bottled at 124.4 proof. The rye was aged for 10 years and bottled at 124.4 proof—the highest to date for the rye and the same as the bourbon. Look for notes of cinnamon, caramel, vanilla custard, smoked oak, and orange zest in the bourbon; the rye has notes of black pepper, maple, dark chocolate, and licorice.
Brand & Industry History
Elijah Craig first dropped a barrel-proof bourbon back in 2013, and at 134.2 proof, that stands with some of the strongest members of this series. The whiskey carried a 12-year age statement for about a decade, but the brand dropped that in 2023 and decided to give each release its own specific age statement, which usually falls within a year or two of that marker.
What This Means
According to the distillery, it’s supposed to be a “more simplistic nomenclature, allowing the quality and craft of the liquid to shine.” The bourbon will also no longer be released in three set batches per year, but on a schedule that reflects when the liquid is actually ready.
Consumer Takeaway
Both whiskeys are available now nationwide with a suggested retail price of $75, but prices may vary depending on the store or website.
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