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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Maker's Mark
Put Elijah Craig Barrel Proof next to Maker's Mark and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Wheated Bourbon |
| 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) +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.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/3 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
spice 7/2 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 9/4 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 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.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).