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Old Grand-Dad 114 vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Old Grand-Dad 114 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 Grand-Dad 114 | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 114 proof (57% ABV) +20 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$28 – $35 ~$39 less | ~$60 – $80 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Old Grand-Dad 114 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
Old Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad 114 Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 9/5 spice: Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
heat 8/4 heat: Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Old Grand-Dad 114 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/5 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
- 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 Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars 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, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).