The inevitable second batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye is upon us, dropping for early 2026. It’s slightly younger than A925 at 11 years, 11 months old, but considerably hotter at 60.2% abv.

Let’s dig in.

You can also read up on every ECBP (bourbon and rye) release to date at our complete guide to the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof series.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Batch A126 (January 2026) Review

Again, Elijah Craig keeps things light and buttery, the nose of this rye a mix of cinnamon and sugar, smeared over buttered toast. There’s perhaps more green herbaceousness this time out than in A925, but it remains mild in relation to other rye whiskeys on the market.

That creamy, buttery body is unmistakable once again, and even at over 120 proof it still comes through, giving the whiskey a beautiful silkiness that coats the tongue. Flavors of cinnamon syrup, honey-roasted peanuts, and mint are all well-represented, though time in glass helps a vein of tobacco to emerge. While elements of dried lemon peel emerge in time, the stronger fruitiness of A925 is diminished in this release, as is the stronger chocolate element. That’s a minus for me, but perhaps a plus for other consumers who want less sweetness in the finished product. I don’t judge.

Again, this is a barrel proof whiskey that I would not have guessed was nearly this high in alcohol, a testament to those who made the decision to pull this from the barrel at just the right moment.

120.4 proof.

A- / $75 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

The post Review: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye Batch A126 (January 2026) appeared first on Drinkhacker: The Insider's Guide to Good Drinking.