Compare
Rowan's Creek vs Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Rowan's Creek and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$40 – $50 vs. ~$16 – $22).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Rowan's Creek | 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 | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$40 – $50 | ~$16 – $22 ~$26 less |
- Rowan's Creek and Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond do not publish an official mash bill.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
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Rowan's Creek Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/5 spice: Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
oak 4/5 oak: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10, Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the finish.
- 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 Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling.
- 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 (Rowan's Creek); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond).