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Old Forester Statesman vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Old Forester Statesman and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$16 – $22 ~$34 less |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/4 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
- 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 Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
- 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, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).