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Four Roses Bourbon vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Four Roses Bourbon and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$22 – $28 | ~$16 – $22 ~$6 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
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/5 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).