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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$60 – $80 vs. ~$16 – $22).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | 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 | 94 proof (47% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$60 – $80 | ~$16 – $22 ~$51 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 Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 9/5 oak: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 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 Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
- 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 Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
- 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 (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).