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Evan Williams Black Label vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing Evan Williams Black Label and Elijah Craig Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by proof (86 vs. 94).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Black Label | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$14 – $18 ~$16 less | ~$28 – $35 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Evan Williams Black Label
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Black Label Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Evan Williams Black Label 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Evan Williams Black Label 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Evan Williams Black Label 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Evan Williams Black Label 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Evan Williams Black Label: The everyday black label, and a perfectly competent well bourbon. Softer and sweeter than the bonded version, with less to say but nothing objectionable.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Evan Williams Black Label if you want a dependable, inexpensive mixing bourbon and nothing more complicated than that at a lower price point.
- 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 slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Evan Williams Black Label); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).