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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +9 proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$55 – $70 ~$23 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.
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/7 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
heat 9/7 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).