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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 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 | Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 13 years +9 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 123.8 proof (61.9% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$231 less | ~$200 – $300 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 8 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof 3 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.
- Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof: Thirteen-year Wild Turkey at full barrel proof, uncut and unfiltered. Cola, molasses and fruit cobbler sit on deep, charred oak, and each release carries its own proof.
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 Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof if you want an old, uncut Wild Turkey with cola, cobbler and serious oak with an older age statement and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Russell’s Reserve 13 Year Barrel Proof).