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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Put Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond next to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Elijah Craig Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 124 proof (62% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$66 less | ~$70 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond does 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.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Elijah Craig Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
heat 5/9 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 9 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 7 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof: The uncut, unfiltered version of the same 12-year Heaven Hill juice, and the intensity is the whole point. Thick fudge and char with cinnamon heat, a genuinely long finish, and enough proof that water meaningfully changes the glass.
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 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof if you want maximum intensity and oak depth, and you want to control the dilution yourself with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Elijah Craig Barrel Proof).