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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 110 proof (55% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$71 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) do not publish an official mash bill.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
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 8 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series): Barrell blends sourced barrels from multiple states and bottles at cask strength, and the batches differ enormously. At their best they show a tropical fruit note that almost nothing else in bourbon delivers.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series) if you want an adventurous, cask-strength blend and you accept that each batch is its own animal with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Barrell Bourbon (Batch Series)).