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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Comparing Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a modern, even-keeled craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$36 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series do not publish an official mash bill.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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- 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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series).