Compare
Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Put Blanton’s Single Barrel next to Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +7 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$16 – $22 ~$96 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/4 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond: A bonded 100-proof bourbon at a price that barely seems possible, though distribution is patchy outside Kentucky. Unremarkable in the best way: it does everything a bourbon should and nothing extra.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
- Go with Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded Kentucky bourbon for under twenty dollars, if you can find it in your state with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).