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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Maker's Mark
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch next to Maker's Mark and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Maker's Mark |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% 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.
Maker's Mark
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 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.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
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 Maker's Mark if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).