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E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
On paper E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond are near neighbours — both traditional bourbons — so price (~$45 – $90 vs. ~$16 – $22) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $90 | ~$16 – $22 ~$49 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.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
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
- 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 E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).