Compare
Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 | ~$16 – $22 ~$8 less |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.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
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 6/5 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/4 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- 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 Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
- 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, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).