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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$85 – $100 vs. ~$16 – $22).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$16 – $22 ~$74 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.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 Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/4 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 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 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.
- 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 Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- 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 Straight Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).