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Willett Pot Still Reserve vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Willett Pot Still Reserve and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Willett Pot Still Reserve | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 12 years |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +30 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $60 ~$33 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Willett Pot Still Reserve 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
Willett Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Willett Pot Still Reserve Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 4/9 heat: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
oak 6/9 oak: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
- 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 Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).