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Barrell Foundation Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Barrell Foundation Bourbon and Elijah Craig Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barrell Foundation Bourbon | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $60 | ~$28 – $35 ~$24 less |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Barrell Foundation Bourbon Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/5 spice: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
- 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 Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).