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Maker's Mark vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Maker's Mark and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a traditional, wheated Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Maker's Mark | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$25 – $32 | ~$16 – $22 ~$10 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Maker's Mark Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: Maker's Mark 2 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Maker's Mark 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Maker's Mark 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Maker's Mark 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Maker's Mark: The bottle that made wheated bourbon mainstream. Soft, sweet, and deliberately low on spice and oak, with baked bread and honey doing most of the work. Consistency is its real feature.
- 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 if you want a reliably sweet, low-spice wheater that is easy to find and easy to drink.
- 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 with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails, highball (Maker's Mark); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).