Gentleman Jack Vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Comparison | The Whiskey Shelf (2024)

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Gentleman Jack Vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Comparison | The Whiskey Shelf (3)

It doesn’t necessarily make a lot of sense to compare Gentleman Jack and Elijah Craig Small Batch, but hear me out first. From my memory, Gentleman Jack and Elijah Craig Small Batch have this somewhat similar dried grass and nutty note that often exists in Jack Daniels, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam, and some Wild Turkey whiskeys. This comparison is even more relevant because they both cost about the same at retail, so some people may actually be comparing them on the shelves when they shop.

With this similar grassy nuttiness in mind, over time I’m going through the exercise of comparing whiskeys from these distilleries so you and I can better understand how different they are. Right now let’s start comparing in this Gentleman Jack vs Elijah Craig Small Batch comparison.

The below table outlines key facts and figures for each whiskey.

Gentleman Jack Vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Comparison | The Whiskey Shelf (7)

Gentleman Jack Vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Comparison | The Whiskey Shelf (8)

Gentleman Jack Vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Comparison | The Whiskey Shelf (9)

And the winner is...

Gentleman Jack Vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Comparison | The Whiskey Shelf (10)

Yes, while Gentleman Jack and Elijah Craig have this sort of similar dry grassy note, the similarities pretty much end there. Gentleman Jack isn’t unpleasant, it’s just generally boring and bland, especially compared to the deeper and more layered Elijah Craig Small Batch that has some character. Gentleman Jack does everything in its power to be smooth and inoffensive, at the expense of being interesting, so I guess Gentleman Jack is actually successful at achieving its primary goal. For me, Gentleman Jack is this flat honey and maple syrup with vanilla buttercream, roasted banana, grain, some oak, and a little dry grass. I prefer Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon.

Elijah Craig Small Batch at least takes me on a journey through the layers of caramel, nuttiness, dark fruits, oak, spice, and chocolate that usually keeps me engaged. Elijah Craig Small batch is just really solid, although I personally prefer Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, but that’s beside the point. I have two pieces of consumer advice for you. First off, if you’re going to drink Jack, drink Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel. I actually enjoy both the 47% ABV and barrel proof versions. Second, Elijah Craig Small Batch is a solid bourbon that works well as a daily sipper and in my opinion is far superior to Gentleman Jack.

Maker's Mark Cask Strength Comparison

Gentleman Jack Vs Elijah Craig Small Batch Comparison | The Whiskey Shelf (2024)

FAQs

What whiskey is comparable to Gentleman Jack? ›

Getting into the scents and flavors, Sinatra Select has many of the same caramel, banana, vanilla, and nut traits as Gentleman Jack, but with a lot more low-end darkness and overall richness to every trait.

Where does Gentleman Jack rank? ›

Gentleman Jack ranks 42nd overall in American Whiskey.

Is Elijah Craig a high end bourbon? ›

Elijah Craig is a premium and super-premium brand of bourbon whiskey produced in Kentucky by Heaven Hill Distilleries. The brand is sold as a straight bourbon, typically in 750 millilitres (26 imp fl oz; 25 US fl oz) glass bottles.

What is Elijah Craig comparable to? ›

Viability as a replacement for Elijah Craig: VERY GOOD

That really leaves three contenders- Evan Williams Single Barrel, Eagle Rare, and Knob Creek. None of them are perfect, but they're both comparable on paper.

What is considered top shelf whiskey? ›

Top Shelf: Bottles on the highest shelves behind a bar. Though there's no hard rule as to cost, these tend to be bottles that would retail for $50 or more in a store. Mid Shelf: Bottles on the lower half of the shelf behind a bartender. With liquor, this would usually be bottles that fall in the $25–50 range.

What makes Gentleman Jack different? ›

Gentleman Jack is a premium version of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. The main difference is that it enjoys a 'double mellowing' as it's filtered through charcoal before being filled into the barrel (the Lincoln County Process) and once again before it's bottled.

Why is Gentleman Jack not a bourbon? ›

It's a Tennessee Whiskey and it says so right on the bottle.

By law, a bourbon must be made in America.

Is Gentleman Jack good for an old fashioned? ›

So pick your favorite whiskey. I just really like Gentleman Jack. Then if you can lay your hands on a blood orange and a jar of Luxardo maraschino cherries… Then you've found your way toward a Gentleman Jack Old Fashioned co*cktail which could be the best Old Fashioned co*cktail you've ever had.

How long does Gentleman Jack last once opened? ›

Whiskey is meant to be enjoyed over time, but once you open a bottle, the clock starts ticking. Most scientists believe that if your bottle is at least half full, it can last one to two years, but if it's almost empty, with a quarter or less whiskey left, it'll expire in about six months.

Is Elijah Craig a good sipping whiskey? ›

Taste: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has an incredibly rich and full-bodied flavor. It is a sipping whiskey that is best enjoyed neat or with a few drops of water. The taste is dominated by oak, but there are also flavors of vanilla, caramel, and dark chocolate. The finish is long and spicy, with a hint of smoke.

Is Elijah Craig cheap bourbon? ›

As a “budget bourbon”, Elijah Craig has its own unique Heaven Hill-like profile, so it's not a close replacement for something like Buffalo Trace.

How long is Elijah Craig Small Batch aged for? ›

This small batch bottling (200 barrels per batch) is comprised of selected whiskeys 8-12 years of age. This no-age statement product was introduced in early 2016 to replace the 12-year age statement (a barrel illustration on the original label took place of the number 12).

Is Elijah Craig a good bourbon for Old Fashioned? ›

"An Old Fashioned uses small, exact amounts of secondary ingredients to showcase and highlight the whiskey, but that doesn't matter if you don't first start with a beautiful, quality whiskey. That's why Elijah Craig is so great in an Old Fashioned."

Is Elijah Craig a whiskey or a bourbon? ›

A rare & coveted Bourbon, drawn from a single, expertly chosen barrel. Only a fraction of barrels are left to age this long, making this bottle a unique opportunity to see how Elijah Craig stands the test of time.

Is Elijah Craig the first bourbon? ›

He continued to refine the barrel charring process, imparting smooth, rich flavor to the spirit that would become known as Bourbon. 250 years later, he is still known as the Father of Bourbon—and we craft our Bourbon today using the same time-honored methods.

Is Gentleman Jack a Scotch or a bourbon? ›

Gentleman Jack is not a 'bourbon', though you'll hear it being called that regularly. Gentleman Jack is a 'Tennessee whiskey', and they sell a lot of it, and thus it deserves a review.

Is Gentleman Jack better than Woodford Reserve? ›

Woodford Reserve bourbon takes the lead in this head-to-head comparison in my book. It boasts a richer and smoother profile when sipped side by side, offering an all-around more pleasant drinking experience. However, it's essential to note that Gentleman Jack is by no means a subpar whiskey.

What whiskey is as good as Jack Daniels? ›

Old Forester and Jack Daniel's have a similar focus on dark caramel, roasted oak, creamy banana, oak spices, and this above average viscous mouthfeel and “nosefeel”.

Is Gentleman Jack like Jack Daniels? ›

Jack Daniel's Tennessee whiskey's premium version is Gentleman Jack. The main difference is that this expression is 'charcoal mellowed' twice, giving it an extra smooth finish. Gentleman Jack this has complex flavours of oak, caramel and vanilla with incredible smoothness on the finish.

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