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Horse Soldier Barrel Strength vs Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$78 – $85 ~$11 less | ~$85 – $100 |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/8 fruit: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength: A barrel-strength wheater from the veteran-founded Horse Soldier brand. Brown sugar and toasted oak lead, baking spice and heat follow, and a splash of water pulls out darker fruit.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Horse Soldier Barrel Strength if you want a big, barrel-strength wheated bourbon with plenty of brown sugar and warmth at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength); neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon).