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Bulleit Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Put Bulleit Bourbon next to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and you have a sourced, high-rye blend set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +34 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$57 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/9 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
oak 5/9 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).