Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L) vs Elijah Craig Straight Rye

Side-by-side comparison — price, ABV, scores, tasting notes, pros & cons.

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)Elijah Craig Straight Rye
DistilleryBallantine'sElijah Craig
RegionOther Scotch
CountryScotlandAmerica
TypeBlendedRye
ABV40%47%
AgeNASNAS
Price£40.95£46.75
Rating5.00/5

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)

Smoke0/100
Sweetness57/100
Beginner75/100
Value0/100

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

Smoke0/100
Sweetness59/100
Beginner60/100
Value100/100

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Quick verdict

Elijah Craig Straight Rye is rated higher (5.00 vs 0.00).

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L) is better value at £41 vs £47.

For beginners: Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L) is more approachable (75/100 beginner score).

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)

Pros

  • +Great entry point for new whisky drinkers
  • +More affordable (£40.95 vs £46.75)
  • +Rich oak and wood spice complexity

Cons

  • Lower community rating (0.0 vs 5.0)

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

Pros

  • +Better value for money
  • +Higher community rating (5.0/5)
  • +More widely reviewed by the community

Cons

  • More expensive (£46.75 vs £40.95)

Who should buy Ballantine's?

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L) suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Other Scotch character.

Who should buy Elijah?

Elijah Craig Straight Rye suits whisky enthusiasts looking for a well-rounded, complex dram. It rewards those with some experience and an appreciation for Rye character.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

VanillaToasted

Only Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)

Malt ExtractNew Wood

Only Elijah Craig Straight Rye

HoneyNutty

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