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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs George T. Stagg
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and George T. Stagg 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 | George T. Stagg |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 142.8 proof (71.4% ABV) +43 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$456 less | ~$150 – $800 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and George T. Stagg do not publish an official mash bill.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.
George T. Stagg
Very complex, with the taste profile moving across the entire palate.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond George T. Stagg
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/10 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, George T. Stagg 10 out of 10
oak 5/9 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, George T. Stagg 9 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, George T. Stagg 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, George T. Stagg 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, George T. Stagg 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, George T. Stagg 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- George T. Stagg: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection's barrel-proof bourbon, around 15 years old. Root beer, dark caramel and charred oak at an enormous proof that changes each year.
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 George T. Stagg if you want the oldest, hottest, most concentrated Buffalo Trace bourbon you can find with significantly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat (George T. Stagg).