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Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and Elijah Craig Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, wheat-forward blend versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon | Elijah Craig Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$49 – $55 | ~$28 – $35 ~$21 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 3/4 fruit: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
- 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 Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood with slightly more proof behind it.
- 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, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).