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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Old Forester Statesman
Put Elijah Craig Barrel Proof next to Old Forester Statesman and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +29 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$50 – $55 ~$33 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/4 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 4/7 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 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.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).