Compare
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs W.L. Weller 12 Year
Put Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond next to W.L. Weller 12 Year and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | W.L. Weller 12 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | 12 years +8 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$106 less | ~$70 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and W.L. Weller 12 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
No notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond W.L. Weller 12 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 8 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, W.L. Weller 12 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- W.L. Weller 12 Year: Twelve years on a wheated mash at a modest 90 proof, which is the combination that made this bottle famous. Deep caramel and baked fruit with polished rather than aggressive oak — the closest widely-discussed analogue to the Pappy profile.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with W.L. Weller 12 Year if you want age and elegance on a wheated mash, and you are willing to chase it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat (W.L. Weller 12 Year).