Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A122

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch A122. Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky — the January 2022 release of Heaven Hill's three-times-annual cask strength bourbon, the first Barrel Proof release of 2022, bottled at 120.8 proof from a 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley mash bill without water reduction or chill filtration — delivering a sweet, fruit-forward nose of caramel, honey, and stone fruit with an oaky, orange-zest, and spiced palate and a long, warming finish with leather.

A122 denotes the January (A batch) 2022 release — the first Elijah Craig Barrel Proof of that year, pulled from barrels at the end of winter's contraction cycle. January A batches draw barrels at a period of minimal wood activity — the spirit has contracted back from the char layer during winter cold, and the January pull captures that settled, integrated profile before the following spring and summer's extraction begins again. At 120.8 proof, A122 sits in the mid-range of the typical Barrel Proof proof spectrum, reflecting the specific barrel selection for this winter release.

The tasting notes for A122 reflect the January pull's characteristic profile: the sweet opening of caramel, honey, and stone fruit that winter-settled barrels often show, an oaky, citrus-forward mid-palate with caramel and orange zest, and the long, layered finish with leather that indicates genuine 12-year complexity. Now a back vintage collector's batch.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Sweet and inviting — caramel, honey, stone fruit, oak, vanilla, and baking spice. The January A batch winter-settled character creates a fruit-forward opening that summer C batches rarely show with the same clarity.
• Palate: Oaky with caramel, orange zest, and spice. The citrus element is notable — a characteristic that makes A122 distinctive within the Barrel Proof range and reflects the specific barrel selection for this January release.
• Finish: Long and warming with oak, spice, fruit, and hints of leather. The 12-year age creates a layered, sustained finish that fades gradually rather than dropping cleanly.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Mash Bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
• Batch: A122 — January 2022 release
• Age: 12 years
• ABV: 60.4% (120.8 Proof)
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered; no water reduction
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does A122 mean? A = January batch, 1 = January (first month), 22 = 2022. The first Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release of 2022, preceding B522 in May and C922 in September.
• What makes the orange zest note distinctive? Citrus notes in Barrel Proof bourbons are a barrel-specific characteristic — the result of the particular esters and aldehydes that specific barrels develop over their aging. A122's orange zest palate note reflects the January 2022 barrel selection and contributes to the batch's distinctiveness within the Barrel Proof release history.
• Is A122 still available? Currently out of stock. A122 is the January 2022 back vintage, superseded by subsequent releases. Check Wooden Cork for current active Barrel Proof batches.