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Bulleit Bourbon vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Bulleit Bourbon and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 | ~$16 – $22 ~$10 less |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond does 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
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/5 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere.
- 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 more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).