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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$90 – $130 vs. ~$16 – $22).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | 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 | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$16 – $22 ~$91 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- 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 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 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 slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).