Company: Sazerac Company
Distillery: Very Old Barton Distillery
Region: Bardstown, Kentucky
Aging: At least 4 Years
ABV: 43% ABV
Proof: 86 Proof
Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 15% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $20
Very Old Barton Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes
Appearance: Golden Honey
Nose: Sweet vanilla, butterscotch, toffee, light fruits, candied apricot, crisp apple, baking spice, toasted oak, tobacco
Palate: Smooth buttery caramel, toffee, toasted oak, sweet vanilla, citrus notes, rye spice, tobacco, leather
Finish: Smooth medium and easy finish – not a whole ton to it but it leaves you with nice toasted oak, caramel, and vanilla with a lingering rye spice on the tail end
Is Very Old Barton an Approachable Whiskey?
Very Old Barton is an extremely approachable whiskey.
The nose is just delightful and full of sweet toffee, vanilla, and candied fruit notes.
The palate is also quite enjoyable and full of sweet and citrus flavors.
This is a whiskey everyone will enjoy and appreciate, especially at the price.
Is Very Old Barton Complex?
Very Old Barton has quite a few layers of flavor.
The nose is full of sweet and sugary flavors like butterscotch, toffee, vanilla, and candied fruits.
The palate delivers on those same flavors but even better expressions of them.
What are Very Old Barton’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Very Old Barton’s strongest attribute is definitely its price tag.
For $20 or less, you get a bottle that is packed full of excellent bourbon flavors and delivers an excellent pour for the price.
Is Very Old Barton a go-to whiskey?
Very Old Barton could very easily be a go-to whiskey.
It’s affordable. It offers a ton of flavor. It has a nice finish.
If I could find this bottle in my area, I would buy it up much more often.
Is Very Old Barton priced accurately to its quality?
Very Old Barton over-delivers on its price tag.
For $20, you’re getting a bottle that tastes more like a $30-35 bottle.
Conclusion for Very Old Barton
Very Old Barton is a delicious whiskey.
Whether this bottle cost $20 or $40, I would still think it was a good buy.
If you see this one on the shelf, pick up a bottle if you’re looking for an excellent budget whiskey.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
2 Comments
Justin Hamilton · February 11, 2025 at 1:24 am
I have only had the 80 and 86 proof so far. The 90 was a little too rough out of the gate for my taste. The 80 proof has become an everyday go to. The store where I found it has it at $12 A bottle. It has a very smooth flow, especially for the price. I still need to put the 86 and 100 proof on my list to try. Thanks for the review.
Brad · March 6, 2025 at 2:35 pm
Unfortunately, Very Old Barton doesn’t release in my state, so the only time I can buy these are when I travel. I’d be very curious to hear how 100 proof it. I will agree that this bottle is a very good go-to so I’ll have to try the 80-proof if you say you enjoy that more!