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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat and Elijah Craig Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 106 proof (53% ABV) +12 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$28 – $35 ~$21 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak with more proof behind it.
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).