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Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, rye-forward bottling versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$150 – $180 | ~$16 – $22 ~$146 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.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
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 9/4 fruit: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 9 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend: Older sourced bourbon finished in sherry, Cognac and then Armagnac casks. Dense dried fruit, fig and orange over cigar leaf and charred oak.
- 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 Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend if you want a fruit-packed, multi-cask-finished bourbon built to go with a cigar.
- 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 (Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).