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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Put Old Forester 86 Proof next to Elijah Craig Small Batch and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$20 – $26 ~$9 less | ~$28 – $35 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
- 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 Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
- 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 (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).