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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs Maker's Mark
Comparing Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Maker's Mark 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +4 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$25 – $32 ~$42 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Maker's Mark
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/4 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
spice 5/2 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 2 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, Maker's Mark 8 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Maker's Mark 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark).