Artfully Bourbon / November 9, 2026The familiar batch codes are gone, the release schedule is changing, and the latest Barrel Proof Bourbon and Rye somehow landed at exactly the same proof.
Photo Credit: Heaven HillIf you've been following Elijah Craig Barrel Proof for a while, you probably know the routine. Three bourbon batches a year, each with its own code, age statement, and proof. Part of the fun was seeing how each release stacked up against the last. Well, Heaven Hill is changing things.
The latest Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon and Rye introduce a new batch numbering system and a more flexible release schedule. Rather than releasing whiskey on a set calendar, Heaven Hill says it will select batches when they're ready.
The first releases under the new system are Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon H-40 and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye H-04. And in a pretty interesting coincidence, both landed at exactly 124.4 proof.
What Do the New Batch Codes Mean?
Previously, Elijah Craig used a three-part code identifying the release order, month, and year. For example, C925 represented the third release of 2025, scheduled for September.
The new system is a little different. The letter represents the month the batch was selected, while the number tracks how many batches have been released since the series began.
H-40: Selected in August, the 40th Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon batch since 2013.
H-04: Selected in August, the fourth Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye batch since 2025.
The numbers no longer reset each year, and releases won't necessarily follow the familiar three-batch calendar.
Photo Credit: Heaven HillTwo New Releases, One Familiar Price
Barrel Proof Bourbon H-40
- Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
- Age: 12 Years, 8 Months
- Proof: 124.4 (62.2% ABV)
- Filtration: Non-chill filtered
- Release: Limited / Batch
- MSRP: $75
Barrel Proof Rye H-04
- Type: Kentucky Straight Rye
- Age: 10 Years
- Proof: 124.4 (62.2% ABV)
- Filtration: Non-chill filtered
- Release: Limited / Batch
- MSRP: $75
At 12 years and 8 months, H-40 is a welcome return to older bourbon following several younger batches in recent years.
The rye is interesting for a different reason. H-04 is only the fourth release in the Barrel Proof Rye series, and at 124.4 proof, it's the strongest yet.
The AB Take
We're good with this change. If removing a release deadline gives Heaven Hill more freedom to put out better whiskey, why not? But let's not give them too much credit for changing a few letters and numbers.
What has always made Elijah Craig Barrel Proof interesting is the combination of age, proof, and price. Few bottles deliver this kind of whiskey for around $75, and we'd like to see that continue.
A nearly 13-year-old bourbon and a 10-year-old rye at 124.4 proof certainly have our attention. Now they just need to taste as good as we'd hope and keep giving the competition a run for its money on value. That matters far more than whatever code is printed on the label.
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