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Woodford Reserve vs Elijah Craig Small Batch
Put Woodford Reserve next to Elijah Craig Small Batch and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Woodford Reserve | 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 | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $42 | ~$28 – $35 ~$7 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Elijah Craig Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Woodford Reserve Elijah Craig Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/4 fruit: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 5 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Small Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
- 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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
- 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, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Elijah Craig Small Batch).