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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$58 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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 Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
heat 6/9 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
spice 8/7 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money without hunting for it.
- Go with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).