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Horse Soldier Barrel Strength vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Put Horse Soldier Barrel Strength next to Old Grand-Dad Bonded and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$78 – $85 | ~$24 – $30 ~$55 less |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and Old Grand-Dad Bonded do not publish an official mash bill.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
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Old Grand-Dad Bonded
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Flavor Profile
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
heat 7/6 heat: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).