Elijah Craig vs Old Forester:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Elijah Craig had more branded searches than Old Forester among bourbon brands worldwide. Elijah Craig had about 74,000 branded searches, while Old Forester had 27,100. Elijah Craig made up 5.5% of all bourbon brand searches we track, and Old Forester accounted for 2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about bourbon brands, Elijah Craig appeared in four of the five answers and Old Forester in two. Elijah Craig and Old Forester were each mentioned first in two of the four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Elijah Craig, about 3 searches for every 1 for Old Forester
Who does AI mention more?
Elijah Craig, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Old Forester in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.
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Top bourbon brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Elijah Craig was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Old Forester was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Elijah Craig and Old Forester were each listed first in two of the four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Wild Turkey1st
Four Roses2nd
Buffalo Trace3rd
Maker's Mark4th
Woodford Reserve5th
Elijah Craig6th
Jim Beam7th
Evan Williams8th
Old Forester9th
Knob Creek10th- +5 more
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Four Roses5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Buffalo Trace4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Maker's Mark4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Woodford Reserve4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Elijah Craig4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Wild Turkey4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Blanton's2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Knob Creek2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Old Forester2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Jim Beam1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about bourbon brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which bourbon should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best bourbon brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's a good bourbon for a beginner?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bourbon brands”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“bourbon whiskey”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 25, 2026.
Is Elijah Craig or Old Forester more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Elijah Craig and Old Forester by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 15 bourbon brands we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Elijah Craig, Old Forester. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Jim Beam | Buffalo Trace | Maker's Mark | Woodford Reserve | Blanton's | Bulleit | Eagle Rare | Elijah Craig | Wild Turkey | Evan Williams | Basil Hayden | Four Roses | Knob Creek | Old Forester | Angel's Envy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Nov 2025 | 18.8% | 12.5% | 12.5% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 6.9% | 3.8% | 5.1% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 0.34% |
| Dec 2025 | 26.7% | 9.8% | 12% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 6.6% | 8% | 3.6% | 4% | 2.9% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.32% |
| Jan 2026 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 4.1% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Feb 2026 | 28% | 10.3% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 3.8% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.33% |
| Mar 2026 | 19.6% | 10.7% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 8.8% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 5% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.35% |
| Apr 2026 | 20.1% | 11% | 13.5% | 11% | 7.4% | 6% | 6% | 4% | 5.1% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.36% |
| May 2026 | 17.7% | 9.7% | 11.9% | 11.9% | 6.5% | 6.5% | 5.3% | 11.9% | 4.9% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.6% | 0.32% |
| Jun 2026 | 19.5% | 10.7% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 4.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.8% | 0.35% |
| Jul 2026 | 20.5% | 11.2% | 13.7% | 11.2% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 4.1% | 2.3% | 1.8% | 0.37% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.9% | 10.3% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 0.92% |
| Sep 2026 | 22.3% | 12.2% | 12.2% | 10% | 6.7% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 5.5% | 4.7% | 3.7% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.6% |
How has the Elijah Craig and Old Forester comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Elijah Craig was ahead of Old Forester in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Elijah Craig’s share of searches among bourbon brands worldwide moved from 4.1% to 5.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 60.5K to 74K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Old Forester’s share of searches among bourbon brands worldwide moved from 1.8% to 2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 27.1K.
How did search popularity change for bourbon brands worldwide in September 2026?
1 change

In September 2026, Elijah Craig overtook Wild Turkey to rank 8th among bourbon brands worldwide, with 5.5% of the searches.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Elijah Craig’s and Old Forester’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Elijah Craig
1 branded search term
- elijah craig
Old Forester
1 branded search term
- old forester
Other head-to-heads among bourbon brands

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