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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs Maker’s Mark 46
Comparing Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Maker’s Mark 46 reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$38 – $45 ~$29 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/7 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
- Go with Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).