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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Comparing Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Elijah Craig Small Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$90 – $130 vs. ~$28 – $35).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$28 – $35 ~$79 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).