Compare
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond vs Willett Pot Still Reserve
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Willett Pot Still Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on traditional bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$16 – $22 vs. ~$45 – $60).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond | Willett Pot Still Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +6 proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$16 – $22 ~$34 less | ~$45 – $60 |
- Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond and Willett Pot Still Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.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 Pot Still Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond Willett Pot Still Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/6 fruit: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/4 nuttiness: Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Willett Pot Still Reserve 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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 Pot Still Reserve: Famous first for the pot-still-shaped decanter and second for the whiskey, which is a fair ordering. Pleasant, sweet and fruit-leaning, with a good deal of the price attached to the glass.
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 slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Willett Pot Still Reserve if you want a distinctive bottle on the shelf and an easy, fruit-forward pour inside it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Very Old Barton Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Willett Pot Still Reserve).