Elijah Craig 23 Year Prefire Barrel #114 4-27-1990

Elijah Craig 23 Year Prefire Barrel #114, distilled April 27, 1990, is one of the rarest expressions from Heaven Hill's single barrel program — a bottle from the era before a major rickhouse fire at Heaven Hill in 1996 that destroyed over 90,000 barrels of aging bourbon. Barrels distilled in 1990 and still aging at the time of the fire are sometimes referred to as "prefire" stock, carrying historical significance beyond their age. Barrel #114 was distilled on April 27, 1990 and aged for 23 years at Heaven Hill's Bardstown facility, representing over two decades in Kentucky's extreme seasonal climate.

Twenty-three years in charred oak transforms bourbon dramatically — the angel's share reduces volume significantly, concentrating the remaining spirit into a dense, complex, deeply oak-influenced expression that goes well beyond standard Elijah Craig character. These are not drinking bourbons for casual occasions. They are milestone pours.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Deep toasted oak, dark caramel, leather, dried cherry, tobacco, aged vanilla — the signature of extreme oak contact
• Palate: Concentrated and complex — dark fruit, toffee, bittersweet chocolate, antique wood spice, dried fig
• Finish: Very long, dry, and oak-driven with lingering sweetness and a warm, dusty fade

Product Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "prefire" mean on an Elijah Craig bottle?

In November 1996, a major fire at Heaven Hill's Bardstown distillery destroyed the distillation facility and over 90,000 barrels of aging bourbon. Barrels distilled before that date and still aging at the time are sometimes called "prefire" stock. The 1990 distillation date places this barrel squarely in that era — it was aging during the fire and survived.

Why is 23 years considered extreme aging for bourbon?

Most premium bourbons are released at 10–15 years. Beyond that, each additional year in barrel increases the risk of the whiskey becoming over-oaked — dominated by tannin and wood at the expense of the original grain character. A 23-year bourbon that has maintained balance is genuinely rare, and barrel-by-barrel variation at this age is extreme. Barrel #114 was selected because it made it through two decades without going off the rails.

How many bottles were produced from Barrel #114?

Exact bottle counts vary by barrel, but Elijah Craig single barrel releases typically yield 150–250 bottles per cask. At 23 years, significant volume is lost to evaporation — so the actual output from Barrel #114 would be considerably lower than a younger release from the same size barrel.