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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$85 – $100 vs. ~$60 – $80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$60 – $80 ~$23 less |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/5 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).