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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Bulleit Bourbon
Put Elijah Craig Barrel Proof next to Bulleit Bourbon and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a blender-built, high-rye bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +34 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$25 – $32 ~$57 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/4 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- 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.
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 with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).