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Barrell Foundation Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Barrell Foundation Bourbon and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barrell Foundation Bourbon | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ~$15 less | ~$60 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Barrell Foundation Bourbon Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/9 oak: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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 Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
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 at a lower price point.
- Go with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).