{"product_id":"elijah-craig-18-year-prefire-barrel-3986-4-20-1990","title":"Elijah Craig 18 Year Prefire Barrel #3986 4-20-1990","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElijah Craig 18 Year Prefire Single Barrel Barrel #3986, distilled April 20, 1990 — a pre-1996 fire era Heaven Hill expression from the original Bardstown distillery, bottled at 90 proof after 18 years of Kentucky maturation. The 4-20-1990 barreling date places distillation 6 years before the November 1996 Heaven Hill warehouse fire that destroyed the original distillery and over 90,000 barrels.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \"Prefire\" designation identifies any Heaven Hill-distilled bourbon produced before the 1996 disaster as categorically distinct from post-fire production. The fire destroyed the original Bardstown still house on November 7, 1996 — Heaven Hill subsequently moved production to Bernheim Distillery in Louisville while rebuilding, with the new Bardstown distillery not opening until 1999. Elijah Craig 18 Year Prefire Barrel #3986 is from 6 years before the fire, entirely predating the transition period.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 18 years and 90 proof, Barrel #3986 is presented at a more accessible proof than Barrel Proof editions, bottled in the classic Elijah Craig 18 Year format that existed before Heaven Hill transitioned the expression to single barrel and barrel proof programs. The barreling date and barrel number make this individually identifiable and fully traceable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDistillery:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heaven Hill, Bardstown, Kentucky (original pre-fire facility)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStyle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Single Barrel\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAge:\u003c\/strong\u003e 18 years\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eProof:\u003c\/strong\u003e 90 (45% ABV)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBarrel:\u003c\/strong\u003e #3986\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBarreled:\u003c\/strong\u003e April 20, 1990\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eEra:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pre-fire (before November 7, 1996)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eSize:\u003c\/strong\u003e 750ml\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eBrowse all \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/rare\"\u003erare spirits at Wooden Cork\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat does Prefire mean for Elijah Craig?\u003c\/strong\u003e The November 7, 1996 Heaven Hill fire destroyed the original Bardstown still house and over 90,000 barrels of aging bourbon — the largest whiskey disaster in American history. All production from the original facility is a fixed, finite set that can never be replenished. Prefire Elijah Craig from the original Bardstown distillery is distillery-provenance distinct from any post-1996 Heaven Hill production.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eWhat is the Elijah Craig 23 Year Prefire and how does this 18 Year compare?\u003c\/strong\u003e The Elijah Craig 23 Year Prefire expressions also in the collection are 5 years older — distilled in approximately 1985 — and represent the deepest aged Prefire expressions. The 18 Year #3986, distilled in 1990, is 5 years younger but still pre-fire and part of the same historically significant production era from the original Bardstown facility.\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What does Prefire mean for Elijah Craig?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The November 7, 1996 Heaven Hill fire destroyed the original Bardstown still house and 90,000+ barrels. All production from the original facility is a finite set that can never be replenished. Prefire Elijah Craig is provenance-distinct from any post-1996 production.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How does the 18 Year compare to the 23 Year Prefire expressions?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The 23 Year Prefire expressions are 5 years older, distilled approximately 1985. The 18 Year #3986 is from 1990 — 5 years younger but still pre-fire and from the same original Bardstown facility.\"}}]}\u003c\/script\u003e","brand":"Elijah Craig","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42900721467463,"sku":"Scott","price":1879.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0687\/0640\/2375\/files\/IMG_6444_eff7f654-8a42-4f56-b6c1-aaf5de2cae7a.jpg?v=1782399921","url":"https:\/\/bourbonnest.com\/products\/elijah-craig-18-year-prefire-barrel-3986-4-20-1990","provider":"Bourbon Nest","version":"1.0","type":"link"}