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Penelope Toasted Series vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Penelope Toasted Series and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, rye-forward blend versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$16 – $22 ~$44 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
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- 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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).