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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Put Elijah Craig Barrel Proof next to Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 12 years +8 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 124 proof (62% ABV) +24 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$70 – $100 | ~$16 – $22 ~$66 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- 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
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 9/5 heat: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 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.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
- 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 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with an older age statement.
- 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 (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).