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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Bulleit Bourbon
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch next to Bulleit Bourbon and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a sourced, high-rye blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$25 – $32 |
- 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.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/7 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/5 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).