Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Wooden Cork Barrel Select #2 125.4 Proof

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Wooden Cork Barrel Select #2 125.4 Proof. Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky — Wooden Cork's second single barrel selection of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, an 8-year cask hand-selected by our team from Heaven Hill's aging inventory and bottled at 125.4 proof without water reduction or chill filtration — available exclusively at Wooden Cork and not found at any other retailer.

Barrel Select #2 represents the second time Wooden Cork traveled to Heaven Hill's Bardstown rick houses to evaluate individual barrels of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and select a single cask for our customers. Each Wooden Cork barrel selection is an independent exercise in judgment: we evaluate multiple candidate barrels at proof, identify the specific characteristics we believe represent exceptional Elijah Craig Barrel Proof character, and commit to one barrel. The 125.4 proof and 8-year age statement of Barrel Select #2 reflect what we found when we made that second selection.

At 8 years, this barrel sits at the core of the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof aging range — old enough for deep caramel, vanilla, and oak development, young enough to retain the bright fruit and spice character that drives the expression's appeal. The 125.4 proof is the natural concentration of this specific barrel after 8 years in the Heaven Hill rick houses — non-chill filtered, no water added, exactly what came out of the wood.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Rich caramel and toasted oak at full 125.4 proof. The 8-year Heaven Hill aging produces the integrated vanilla and baking spice that defines the Barrel Proof style, with bright fruit character from the younger age statement.
• Palate: Dense and full-bodied with caramel, vanilla, oak tannin, and warming cinnamon spice. The 8-year age delivers the balance of fruit brightness and wood depth that makes this proof range particularly compelling.
• Finish: Long and warming with caramel, spice, and oak persisting through a clean close. The 125.4 proof carries the finish further than lower-proof expressions can sustain.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Selection: Wooden Cork Barrel Select #2
• Mash Bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
• Age: 8 years
• ABV: 62.7% (125.4 Proof)
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered; no water reduction
• Size: 750ml
• Availability: Exclusively at Wooden Cork

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Barrel Select #2? Wooden Cork's second private barrel selection of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof — a single 8-year cask hand-selected by our team at Heaven Hill, bottled exclusively for Wooden Cork customers. The #2 designation distinguishes it from our first selection (the 9-year 125.6 Proof private barrel).
• How does Barrel Select #2 compare to the Wooden Cork Private Barrel 125.6? Both are single casks selected exclusively by Wooden Cork. The Private Barrel is 9 years at 125.6 proof; Barrel Select #2 is 8 years at 125.4 proof. The extra year of aging in the Private Barrel produces deeper oak and leather character; the 8-year Barrel Select #2 shows brighter fruit and more forward spice. Same program, different barrels, different expressions.
• Is Barrel Select #2 the same as standard Elijah Craig Barrel Proof? Same distillery, mash bill, and barrel program. The specific barrel — its individual aging trajectory, proof, and character — is Wooden Cork's selection. This barrel does not exist outside of Wooden Cork's allocation.