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

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

Elijah Craig Straight RyeBallantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)
DistilleryElijah CraigBallantine's
RegionOther Scotch
CountryAmericaScotland
TypeRyeBlended
ABV47%40%
AgeNASNAS
Price£46.75£40.95
Rating5.00/5

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

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

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)

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

Elijah Craig Straight Rye

SmokySweetFruitySpicyWoodyFloral

Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)

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).

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)

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)

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.

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.

Tasting notes

Both taste of

ToastedVanilla

Only Elijah Craig Straight Rye

HoneyNutty

Only Ballantine's Barrel Smooth (1L)

Malt ExtractNew Wood

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