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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Penelope Toasted Series
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Penelope Toasted Series sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus a blender-built, rye-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$44 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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.
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
fruit 4/4 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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 Penelope Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).