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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Jim Beam Black
Elijah Craig Small Batch and Jim Beam Black sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +8 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$22 – $28 ~$7 less |
- Jim Beam Black 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.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 4/6 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).