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Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Put Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond next to Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year and you have a classic, corn-forward stalwart set against a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 68% corn, 18% rye, 14% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 125.2 proof (62.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$51 less | ~$65 – $75 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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.
Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/9 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 9 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 6 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year: Willett's own young distillate at full barrel proof. It is loud and sweet, all caramel corn, pastry and citrus, with a lot of heat for a four-year bourbon. Proof varies by 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 Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year if you want a young, hot, barrel-proof pour that shows off Willett's own distillate with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat (Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4 Year).