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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch next to Old Forester 86 Proof and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +8 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$20 – $26 ~$9 less |
- 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 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 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
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 Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).