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Maker’s Mark Cask Strength vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an uncut, wheat-forward heavyweight versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker’s Mark Cask Strength | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon, Barrel Proof | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$16 – $22 ~$26 less |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 9/6 sweetness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 9 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
spice 3/5 spice: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
heat 7/5 heat: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Maker’s Mark Cask Strength 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- Maker’s Mark Cask Strength: Undiluted Maker's, and the version that finally gives the wheated recipe some weight. Dense caramel and honey with real warmth, and one of the more affordable cask-strength bottles anywhere.
- 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 Maker’s Mark Cask Strength if you want wheated sweetness at full strength for well under what most cask-strength bourbons cost.
- 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, rocks (Maker’s Mark Cask Strength); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).