Compare
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Old Grand-Dad Bonded sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$24 – $30 ~$83 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Old Grand-Dad Bonded do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with slightly more proof behind it and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).