Tag: Elijah Craig

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye, released in September 2025 as the brand’s first-ever barrel proof rye, has been named “Whisky of the Year” for 2025 by American publication Whisky Advocate — the top spot on the magazine’s annual Top 20 list.

It’s the first time in the ranking’s history that an American rye whiskey has earned the top honor, a symbolic moment for a category currently enjoying a strong revival. The award-winning batch, bottled uncut and non-chill filtered straight from the barrel, was aged 12 years and 3 months and comes in at 108 proof (54% ABV). Tasters noted baking spice, molasses and orchard fruit on the nose, followed by cinnamon, nutmeg, butterscotch and peppery rye spice on the palate.

This marks the third time in the past decade that a Heaven Hill product from the Elijah Craig/Larceny family has won the title, following Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon (2017) and Larceny Barrel Proof (2020).

American whiskey lovers can explore the range of whiskey and other spirits available at Mister Tabaco.

Source: Heaven Hill Brands

The American Distilling Institute has announced the winners of its 2026 International Spirits Competition, one of the largest contests dedicated to spirits produced in the United States. The title of “America’s Greatest Whiskey 2026” went to Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof A925, a cask-strength release from the Heaven Hill Brands portfolio, the distillery that dominated the bourbon and rye categories with numerous gold medals. Also in the whiskey category, Still 630 Distillery was named best cask-strength release, while Minglewood Distilling won the bottled-in-bond category. The competition also included international categories, with established names such as WhistlePig, Four Roses and Patrón among the gold medal winners, confirming the high quality level of the American spirits industry in 2026.

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Source: American Distilling Institute