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Horse Soldier Barrel Strength vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Put Horse Soldier Barrel Strength next to Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and you have an uncut, high-wheat heavyweight set against a classic, corn-forward stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Horse Soldier Barrel Strength | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 20% wheat, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$78 – $85 | ~$16 – $22 ~$63 less |
- Horse Soldier Barrel Strength and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.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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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/5 heat: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Horse Soldier Barrel Strength 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- 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 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 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, old-fashioned (Horse Soldier Barrel Strength); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).