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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Old Forester 100 Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$26 – $32 ~$41 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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/6 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 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.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).