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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Elijah Craig Small Batch and Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 5% rye, 25% wheat |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$19 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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.
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 2 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon: An organic, wheat-heavy bourbon from a Michigan craft distillery. It stays round and caramel sweet on the palate with a peppery edge, while the nose is quiet and still a little young.
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 Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon if you want an organic, Midwest craft wheater with a round, caramel-forward body.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon).