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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$85 – $100 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$55 – $70 ~$30 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series do not publish an official mash bill.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 Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/6 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
oak 6/6 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).