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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Elijah Craig Small Batch and Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$59 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 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 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/8 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Elijah Craig Small Batch: A heavily oak-driven pour for the money, with vanilla bean and brown sugar riding on top of real char and smoke. The extra age shows up as wood depth rather than harshness.
- Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series): Barrell blends sourced barrels from multiple states and bottles at cask strength, and the batches differ enormously. At their best they show a tropical fruit note that almost nothing else in bourbon delivers.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Elijah Craig Small Batch if you want the best oak-forward value on the shelf, with more wood character than its price suggests.
- Go with Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) if you want an adventurous, cask-strength blend and you accept that each batch is its own animal with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat (Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)).