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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Wild Turkey 81
On paper Elijah Craig Small Batch and Wild Turkey 81 are near neighbours — both traditional bourbons — so proof (94 vs. 81) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Wild Turkey 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 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) +13 proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 | ~$20 – $25 ~$9 less |
- Wild Turkey 81 does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Wild Turkey 81
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
heat 4/2 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10
fruit 4/3 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 81 6 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.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81).