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Old Forester 100 Proof vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Old Forester 100 Proof and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 100 Proof | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 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 1 | ~$26 – $32 ~$41 less | ~$60 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 100 Proof Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/9 oak: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- Go with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).