Last Updated on: 8th April 2024, 02:47 pm
J Highland
J Highland is a certified sommelier with 30 years in the liquor industry, owning a pub, a liquor store, and moonlighting as a spirits distiller.
In this comprehensive comparison, discover the differences between Elijah Craig Small Batch and Larceny Small Batch to choose your preferred bourbon!
Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.
Written by: J Highland
Elijah Craig vs Larceny: Comparison
Elijah Craig: Offers a bold and spicy profile with a nose of wood, cinnamon, and chocolate, leading to flavors of wood, butterscotch, and a spicy finish of oak, cinnamon, and clove. It’s a solid choice for those who appreciate a robust bourbon with a long, warm finish.
Larceny Small Batch: Features a sweet aroma of banana bread and butterscotch, with a palate of caramel and banana, finishing with caramel and oak spice. Ideal for those looking for a sweet, wheated bourbon that’s easy on the palate and offers good value.
Key Fact: Both bourbons are produced at the Heaven Hill Distillery using different recipes.
Verdict: Elijah Craig is perfect for enthusiasts of bold, spicy bourbons, while Larceny Small Batch suits those preferring a sweeter, wheated profile. Both are excellent in their own right, catering to different preferences in the bourbon spectrum, states whiskey expert Neil Coleman.
Related: Top Bourbons under $30
Elijah Craig: A Bold and Spicy Bourbon with a History
- Nose: Wood, chocolate, cinnamon, clove
- Palate: Chocolate, wood, butterscotch, citrus
- Finish: Oak spice, cinnamon, clove, black pepper, vanilla
- Alcohol content: 94 proof (47% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
- Similar to: 1792 Small Batch
Spicy and oaky aroma: Elijah Craig opens with a dominant oak aroma accompanied by subtle hints of cinnamon, clove, and chocolate.
Bold and spicy flavor: The taste is led by oak spice, with notes of bitter chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch. A faint citrus note adds complexity.
Intense finish: The finish is warm and spicy, rich in oak spice, cinnamon, black pepper, and clove, with a touch of butterscotch sweetness fading in later. The intensity can be overwhelming for some.
Tip for enjoyment: Adding a drop of water can enhance the sweetness and reduce the heat and peppery notes, creating a more balanced experience.
My take: While Elijah Craig is an acceptable bourbon, its bold and spicy finish might not be ideal for sipping neat. The price point may also steer some towards other options.
Elijah Craig in a nutshell:
- Known for pioneering the use of charred casks for bourbon aging.
- Mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley.
- Aged for at least eight years in Kentucky rickhouses (previously had an age statement).
- Produced by Heaven Hill Distilleries.
Larceny Small Batch: A Sweet Wheated Bourbon for Everyday Sipping
- Nose: Banana bread, vanilla, butterscotch
- Palate: Banana, caramel, oak
- Finish: Caramel, oak spice
- Alcohol content: 92 proof (46% ABV)
- How to drink: Add water
- Similar to: Maker’s Mark
Sweet and inviting: Larceny Small Batch opens with a nose of banana bread, vanilla, and butterscotch, hinting at its sweet character.
Warm and wheaty: The first sip brings a hint of heat that quickly fades into sweet flavors of caramel and banana. A touch of oak spice adds depth, while the texture is light and slightly thin.
Pleasant finish: The finish is sweet and warm, leaving a lingering aftertaste of caramel and oak spice.
My recommendation: To enhance the sweetness and reduce the mild heat, consider adding a dash of water. This allows the bourbon’s pleasant flavors to shine through, making it even more enjoyable.
Good value: Larceny offers good value for its price, making it an affordable choice for everyday sipping.
Sweet & wheaty profile: Compared to Maker’s Mark, Larceny boasts a more complex and flavorful profile with its pronounced wheated characteristics.
Larceny in a nutshell:
- Wheated bourbon with a mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.
- No age statement but contains bourbons aged 6 to 12 years.
- Sweet flavor profile with hints of banana bread, caramel, and oak spice.
- Moderate heat that can be easily toned down with water.
- Considered a good value for the price and a suitable everyday sipper.
What do Elijah Craig and Larceny have in common?
Crafted at the same distillery
Elijah Craig and Larceny are crafted at the same Heaven Hill Distillery along with other bourbons such as Evan Williams and rye whiskeys such as the Pikesville and Rittenhouse.
The difference in mash bills makes them sufficiently different from each other.
Price comparison
Prices are approximate and stated in USD.
| Whiskey | Price |
| Elijah Craig Small Batch | $34 |
| Larceny Small Batch | $29 |