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Elijah Craig Small Batch vs Woodford Reserve
Put Elijah Craig Small Batch next to Woodford Reserve and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Small Batch | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$28 – $35 ~$7 less | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Small Batch Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/6 fruit: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).