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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Comparing Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Maker’s Mark Cask Strength reveals a matchup between an uncut, cask-strength bruiser and an uncut, wheated heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +14 proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$40 – $50 ~$40 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.
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
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Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/3 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/9 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10
heat 9/7 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
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 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength).