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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Comparing Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$16 – $22 vs. ~$60 – $80).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$51 less | ~$60 – $80 |
| 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 Toasted Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/9 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 9 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel 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 Toasted Barrel: Finished in a second toasted (not charred) barrel, which produces an unmistakable toasted-marshmallow note. Sweet and heavily wooded, and one of the more distinctive finishes any major producer makes.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel if you want a distinctive toasted-oak, marshmallow-sweet finish you will not find in a standard bourbon.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel).