Compare
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and Willett Pot Still Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus a new-wave, classically built craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +30 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$45 – $60 ~$33 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 9/4 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
oak 9/6 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 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.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).