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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Elijah Craig Small Batch and Barrell Foundation Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Barrell Foundation Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$24 less | ~$50 – $60 |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon 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 Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/6 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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 Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
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 Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon).