Compare
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Comparing Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$90 – $130 vs. ~$55 – $70).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | 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 | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$55 – $70 ~$48 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series do not publish an official mash bill.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
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/6 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- 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 (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).