Compare
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Comparing Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon is a closer contest than it looks — both are traditional bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$16 – $22 vs. ~$85 – $100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$74 less | ~$85 – $100 |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/8 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/5 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 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.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon).