Bourbon Club of Arkansas Announces Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “Light Side” Barrel Pick

Last Updated on January 7, 2026 by Justin Jones

PUBLISH DATE: January 7, 2026

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas has officially announced the arrival of its Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “Light Side” single barrel, marking another major release from one of the most recognized whiskey clubs in the state.

According to a January 7 announcement from Jeff Franzetti, the barrel has landed at Five Star Liquor and represents the first of two related Elijah Craig Barrel Proof selections chosen by the club.

The bottle comes from Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof program, widely respected among bourbon enthusiasts for delivering whiskey straight from the barrel without chill filtration or dilution. These releases are known for their rich intensity, often showcasing bold caramel, oak, dark sugar, and spice notes.

This particular selection has been nicknamed “Light Side,” suggesting a counterpart barrel—often referred to as a “sister barrel”—that will be released later.

The whiskey itself is produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, one of Kentucky’s most historic distilleries. Founded in 1935, Heaven Hill is responsible for several iconic bourbon brands including Elijah Craig, Larceny, Evan Williams, and Old Fitzgerald. Their Barrel Proof Elijah Craig releases have built a reputation for delivering some of the most sought-after high-proof bourbon in the category.

A Growing Legacy of Arkansas Barrel Picks

For the Bourbon Club of Arkansas, releases like this represent the culmination of years of work by members who travel to distilleries, taste through barrel samples, and select the whiskey that best represents the club’s palate.

The group has built a reputation not just for picking quality barrels, but for doing so consistently. Over the past several years, BCA selections have earned national recognition, including awards at the ASCOT Awards, further cementing the club’s influence in the bourbon community.

With the arrival of the “Light Side” Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Arkansas bourbon enthusiasts once again get a glimpse of the kind of high-proof single barrel selections that have helped elevate the state’s whiskey scene.

And if the announcement holds true, this won’t be the last of it—a second sister barrel is expected to arrive in the coming months, giving members another opportunity to experience the pairing.

Update: First Review of the “Light Side” Barrel

UPDATE – February 9, 2026

After several weeks of the bottle being open, Jeff Franzetti shared his detailed tasting notes on the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof “Light Side” barrel from the Bourbon Club of Arkansas. Franzetti was part of the original barrel selection team and offered insight after spending time with the bottle.

“Fortunate enough to be on the pick team for this one and I must say that Heaven Hill Distillery knows how to do a proper tasting. It doesn’t hurt that Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is one of my favorite accessible pours.

Bottle fill is about 50% and it’s been open for 5–6 weeks.

Nose: Potent and pleasant. It hits the traditional notes of oak and smoky char with a faint sweet note of honeysuckle. Surprisingly there isn’t much ethanol on the nose and no nose hairs were harmed in this review.

Palate: An experience to savor. Big cherry and sweet notes dominate the front of the palate and transition into more charred oak on the back. It’s not a dry oak but more like smoldering damp oak that balances the sweetness. It’s a rich and luxe pour, though a little thin in viscosity. I’m fine with that, but I do wish it didn’t roll off the tongue quite so quickly.

Finish: Once it rolls off, the barrel proof bite shows up. That faint ethanol on the nose was apparently a ruse because this pour left skid marks on my esophagus. It’s a nice Kentucky hug that lingers for three to four minutes after it goes down the hatch.

A glass of this Elijah elixir will go a long way, and this is a damn good Elijah Craig — one of the best I’ve had.

I can’t wait to blind this against its “Dark Side” sister barrel. It’s going to be tough to top the Light Side, but I did give a slight edge to the Dark Side barrel during the tasting, so we’ll see if that holds up.

Score: 8/10”

The comparison between the “Light Side” and “Dark Side” sister barrels has already become a point of discussion within the club, and many members are eager to see how the two stack up in blind tastings.