Compare
Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Comparing Elijah Craig Small Batch and Old Forester 1870 Original 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 | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% 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 ~$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.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
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 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).