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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Four Roses Small Batch
Comparing Elijah Craig Small Batch and Four Roses Small Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Four Roses Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% 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 | ~$32 – $38 |
- 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.
Four Roses Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Four Roses Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/7 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 7 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 5 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Four Roses Small Batch: Four Roses' yeast strains push this toward fruit and florals rather than wood. Red berry and cinnamon over a light body, with the rye showing up as brightness instead of bite.
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 Four Roses Small Batch if you want a fruit-and-floral profile that stands apart from the usual caramel-and-oak template.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks, cocktails (Four Roses Small Batch).