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It’s not even September yet, but we’ve finally got a glimpse of the picture we’ve all been waiting for – our first look at Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C923 (C = Third Batch of the Year, 9 = September, 23 = 2023). I reported earlier that the age was going to be 13 years and 7 months, but I had no idea the proof was going to clock in a 133!

This is a throwback to the early days of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof when it was more the rule rather than the exception that each batch would come in over 130 proof. Below is a list of all the “new label ECBP” releases with their proof right next to it. Before this generation, the old label ECBP (commonly known as “Pirate Bottles”) had every batch in the 130’s with only one (Batch 7) with a proof of 128.0.
- A117 127.0 proof 2017
- B517 124.2 proof 2017
- C917 131.0 proof 2017
- A118 130.6 proof 2018
- B518 133.4 proof 2018
- C918 131.4 proof 2018
- A119 135.4 proof 2019
- B519 122.2 proof 2019
- C919 136.8 proof 2019
- A120 136.6 proof 2020
- B520 127.2 proof 2020
- C920 132.8 proof 2020
- A121 123.6 proof 2021
- B521 118.2 proof 2021 *CHANGE TO FRONT LABEL*
- C921 120.2 proof 2021
- A122 120.8 proof 2022
- B522 121.0 proof 2022
- C922 124.8 proof 2022
- A123 125.6 proof 2023
- B523 124.2 proof 2023 *AGE STATEMENTS BEGIN TO FLUCTUATE*
- C923 133.0 proof 2023
As you can see based on this list, Batch C923 ranks 5th over the last 21 batches of ECBP in terms of highest proof. What’s more significant is that we haven’t seen much deviation in terms of each batch’s proof in the last 3 years. It’s a sight for sore eyes (and sore tongues)!

As usual, my cynical take is that Heaven Hill is teasing us with not only an age statement this high, but now a proof as well. I think they’re doing this just to throw enthusiasts a bone that they still have some mojo left in their warehouses. I’m sure we’re going to see 2 batches per year with rather low proofs and decreasing age statements.
But for now, I’ll take what I can get.
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Paul
Sunday 10th of September 2023
I was able to get a bottle of this on Friday at Heaven Hill after doing the You Do Bourbon tour and bottling my own EC Y723 (distillery only). We were told by the HH tech that the C923 also includes 15 and 17-year bourbons as well. Pretty wild. Not sure if/when I'll be opening this, but I imagine it will be pretty awesome. Cheers.