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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Booker’s
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Booker’s sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Booker’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years +5 yr | 7 years |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $100 ~$13 less | ~$85 – $110 |
- Booker’s does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Booker’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 4/8 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Booker’s 8 out of 10
oak 9/8 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Booker’s 8 out of 10
heat 9/10 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Booker’s 10 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Booker’s 7 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Booker’s 7 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Booker’s 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself at a lower price point.
- Go with Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat (Booker’s).