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Eagle Rare 12 Year vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Eagle Rare 12 Year and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$50 – $80 vs. ~$60 – $80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Eagle Rare 12 Year | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $80 ~$5 less | ~$60 – $80 |
| Availability | Allocated | Limited easier to find |
- Eagle Rare 12 Year 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
Eagle Rare 12 Year
Top 3, behind George T. Stagg and Jack Daniel's 14.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Eagle Rare 12 Year Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/9 oak: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Eagle Rare 12 Year 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Eagle Rare 12 Year 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Eagle Rare 12 Year 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Eagle Rare 12 Year: Two more years and five more proof points than Eagle Rare 10. Brown sugar and toffee lead, with a drier, more astringent oak 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 Eagle Rare 12 Year if you want an older, richer step up from Eagle Rare 10 with more brown sugar and oak at a slightly 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 (Eagle Rare 12 Year); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).