Compare

Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Johnny Drum Private Stock

On paper Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Johnny Drum Private Stock are near neighbours — both traditional bourbons — so price (~$16 – $22 vs. ~$35 – $45) is what actually decides it.

Key Specifications

Feature Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Johnny Drum Private Stock
Type / Style Traditional Bourbon Traditional Bourbon
Mash Bill 1 Not disclosed Not disclosed
Age 4 years No age statement
Proof 100 proof (50% ABV) 101 proof (50.5% ABV)
Approx. Price 2 ~$16 – $22 ~$21 less ~$35 – $45
  1. Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Johnny Drum Private Stock do not publish an official mash bill.
  2. 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 yet

No notes yet.

Johnny Drum Private Stock

Not rated yet

No notes yet.

Flavor Profile

Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Johnny Drum Private Stock
sweetnessspiceoakfruitheatnuttiness

Axis by axis, biggest gap first

fruit 4/6 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 out of 10

Flavor Profile Differences

The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.

  • 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.
  • Johnny Drum Private Stock: An old-school Willett label at 101 proof. Oily and dessert-like, with baked apple, almond and custard, and rye-like mint and spice on the finish.

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 Johnny Drum Private Stock if you want an oily, dessert-like 101-proof pour with old-school Willett character.

Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Johnny Drum Private Stock).