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Barrell Foundation Bourbon vs Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Barrell Foundation Bourbon and Horse Soldier Barrel Strength sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Barrell Foundation Bourbon | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 73% corn, 23% rye, 4% malted barley | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 5 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $60 ~$27 less | ~$78 – $85 |
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon and Horse Soldier Barrel Strength do not publish an official mash bill.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
Barrell Foundation Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Barrell Foundation Bourbon Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/7 heat: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 6 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 5 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Barrell Foundation Bourbon 3 out of 10, Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Barrell Foundation Bourbon: Barrell's everyday bottle: a multi-state blend proofed down to 100 instead of bottled at cask strength. Creamy cake and vanilla up front, then a dry, rye-driven peppery finish.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Barrell Foundation Bourbon if you want an approachable, 100-proof Barrell blend that still shows off multi-state blending at a lower price point.
- Go with Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Barrell Foundation Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength).