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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond vs Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Comparing Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond and Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B reveals a matchup between a modern, spice-driven craft expression and a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond | Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 6 years | 12 years +6 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $50 ~$488 less | ~$170 – $900 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/3 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 8 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 5 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond: Bardstown's own high-rye recipe, distilled on site rather than sourced. More than a third rye gives it a bright, minty, fruit-and-pepper profile over caramel and light oak.
- Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B: Twelve-year wheated bourbon from the Van Winkle line. Soft and balanced, with butterscotch, toffee and caramel and a gentle, spiced finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond if you want a spicy, fruit-forward high-rye bourbon with the guarantees of a bonded label at a significantly lower price point.
- Go with Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B if you want a soft, balanced, 12-year wheater from the Van Winkle line with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Van Winkle Special Reserve 12 Year Lot B).