Compare
Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch next to Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +16 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$31 less | ~$55 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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.
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 4/7 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 7 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 8 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel: Non-chill-filtered single barrels at 110 proof, and the format that store picks have made a cult of. Concentrated Wild Turkey character with a texture the standard bottlings do not have.
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 Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel if you want concentrated Wild Turkey character with single-barrel variation and real texture with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel).