{"product_id":"elijah-craig-barrel-proof-wooden-cork-barrel-select-128-8-proof","title":"Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Wooden Cork Barrel Select 128.8 Proof","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElijah Craig Barrel Proof Wooden Cork Barrel Select 128.8 Proof. Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky — a single barrel of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof hand-selected exclusively for Wooden Cork, aged 9 years in new charred American oak and bottled at 128.8 proof — one of the highest-proof Wooden Cork barrel selections in the Elijah Craig program — without water reduction or chill filtration.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 128.8 proof, this Wooden Cork barrel selection sits at the upper range of the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof program's typical proof spectrum. The higher proof reflects a barrel with exceptional concentration from 9 years in Heaven Hill's rick houses — less angel's share evaporation relative to the proof increase suggests a barrel that retained its alcohol content while concentrating its flavor compounds through repeated seasonal heat cycling on the upper rick house floors.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWooden Cork's selection process for this barrel followed the same approach as every private barrel selection: our team evaluated multiple candidate barrels from Heaven Hill's aging inventory and selected this specific cask based on its proof, flavor, and overall quality. The 128.8 proof and 9-year age combination we chose represents the highest-proof expression in our Elijah Craig barrel selection portfolio — for those who want maximum intensity from the Wooden Cork \/ Heaven Hill partnership, this is it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eNose:\u003c\/strong\u003e Intensely concentrated caramel, dark fruit, and toasted oak at 128.8 proof. The 9-year aging and high proof create an aromatic profile that opens dramatically with a few minutes of air. Rich, complex, and assertive.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003ePalate:\u003c\/strong\u003e The highest-proof Wooden Cork barrel selection delivers the fullest weight and deepest complexity in the series — concentrated caramel, vanilla, dark oak tannin, baking spice, and dried fruit at full cask intensity. Water is recommended but not required.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFinish:\u003c\/strong\u003e Extended and warming. The 128.8 proof and 9-year combination creates a finish that sustains longer than any lower-proof expression in the Wooden Cork EC barrel series.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSelection:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wooden Cork Barrel Select\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eMash Bill:\u003c\/strong\u003e 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 9 years\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eABV:\u003c\/strong\u003e 64.4% (128.8 Proof)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eFiltration:\u003c\/strong\u003e Non-chill filtered; no water reduction\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAvailability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Exclusively at Wooden Cork\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse our full selection of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/woodencork.com\/collections\/whiskey\"\u003ebourbon and whiskey at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhy is this the highest-proof Wooden Cork EC barrel selection?\u003c\/strong\u003e Proof in single barrel bourbon varies based on the specific barrel's evaporative history over aging. A barrel at 128.8 proof after 9 years retained more alcohol concentration than lower-proof selections of similar age. Wooden Cork selected this barrel specifically because the combination of high proof, 9-year depth, and flavor quality represented the most intense expression in the candidate barrels we evaluated.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eShould I add water to 128.8 proof bourbon?\u003c\/strong\u003e It depends on preference. Neat in a tasting glass with a few minutes of air reveals the full concentrated aromatic profile first. Adding 5–10% water then opens additional fruit and floral notes that the extreme proof compresses. Both approaches are valid — try neat first, then experiment with water.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eHow does 128.8 Proof compare to the other Wooden Cork EC barrel selections?\u003c\/strong\u003e This is the highest-proof barrel in the Wooden Cork EC series. At 9 years and 128.8 proof it delivers maximum intensity — more concentrated and assertive than the 125.6 (9yr), 125.4 (8yr), 124.8 (8yr), and 118.2 (9yr) selections. For those who want the most from the program, this barrel is the ceiling.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why is this the highest-proof Wooden Cork EC barrel selection?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Proof varies by barrel's evaporative history. At 128.8 proof after 9 years, this barrel retained exceptional concentration. Wooden Cork selected it because the combination of high proof, 9-year depth, and flavor quality represented the most intense expression in candidate barrels evaluated.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Should I add water to 128.8 proof bourbon?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Try neat first with a few minutes of air to reveal the full concentrated profile. Then add 5-10% water to open additional fruit and floral notes. Both approaches are valid.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How does 128.8 Proof compare to the other Wooden Cork EC barrel selections?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The highest-proof barrel in the Wooden Cork EC series. At 9 years and 128.8 proof it delivers maximum intensity — more concentrated than the 125.6, 125.4, 124.8, and 118.2 selections.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Elijah Craig","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49128342651132,"sku":"elijah-craig-barrel-proof-wooden-cork-barrel-select-128-8-proof","price":61.75,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0800\/6605\/2348\/files\/ElijahCraigPrivateBarrelWoodenCorkBarrelSelect_2-1_16bb8853-2e4d-409d-aa37-3644730cabce.jpg?v=1779560187","url":"https:\/\/thebourbonvaulthq.com\/products\/elijah-craig-barrel-proof-wooden-cork-barrel-select-128-8-proof","provider":"THE BOURBONVAULT HQ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}