Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B522

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B522. Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky — the May 2022 release of Heaven Hill's three-times-annual cask strength bourbon, bottled uncut and unfiltered directly from the barrel without water reduction or chill filtration, delivering the full intensity of upper rick house aging at the specific proof this batch emerged from the wood — one of the most consistently acclaimed barrel proof releases in American whiskey.

B522 denotes the May (B batch) 2022 release of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof — the second of three annual releases that year, following the January A522 and preceding the September C522. Each batch is drawn from a small selection of barrels chosen specifically for that release window, which is why every batch carries its own proof and its own specific flavor profile. B522 represents the May aging window: barrels that absorbed the winter contraction of 2021–2022 and the early summer heat of 2022, creating a specific point-in-time expression of what Heaven Hill's upper rick house produces.

The production philosophy is identical across every Barrel Proof batch: same 78% corn mash bill as the Small Batch, same new charred American oak barrels, same upper rick house floor placement that drives the heat cycling responsible for deep caramel and vanilla extraction. What changes batch to batch is the specific barrel selection, the specific proof, and the specific moment in the aging cycle those barrels were pulled. Non-chill filtered and no water added — what's in the bottle is exactly what came out of the wood.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Dark caramel, toasted oak, and baking spice at full cask intensity. The B batch spring release typically shows slightly more fruit-forward character than the winter A batch, with dried cherry and vanilla layered beneath the oak.
• Palate: Dense and full-bodied with deep caramel, vanilla, oak tannin, and warming cinnamon spice. Cask strength delivers weight and complexity the Small Batch cannot match at its lower proof. The B522 specific batch shows excellent balance for its proof.
• Finish: Long and warming with oak, spice, and caramel persisting well past the close. A few drops of water opens additional floral and fruit notes without diminishing the cask character.

Specs

• Distillery: Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky
• Mash Bill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
• Batch: B522 — May 2022 release
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered; no water reduction
• ABV: Cask strength (varies by batch)
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does B522 mean? B = May batch, 5 = May (fifth month), 22 = 2022. Heaven Hill releases Elijah Craig Barrel Proof three times per year: A batch in January, B batch in May, C batch in September. The number following the letter is the month and year of release.
• How does B522 differ from other Barrel Proof batches? Each batch is drawn from a different selection of barrels at a different point in the aging cycle, producing a different proof and flavor profile. B522 represents the May 2022 release window. Collectors often track batches across years to follow how the expression evolves season to season.
• Is B522 still available? Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batches are limited releases. Once a batch sells out it is not restocked — it is replaced by the next scheduled release. Check current availability at Wooden Cork for the most up-to-date stock across all active batches.