Very Old Barton 100 Proof Bourbon

This is another in my attempt to discover a bourbon that offers similar value to Evan Williams Bottled in Bond. And that pursuit continues to be unsuccessful. This bourbon is surprisingly subdued in every aspect, despite being 100 proof. The nose is almost imperceptible, mainly honey and vanilla, with just a bit of spice. The palate offers more honey, a pleasant sweet and doughy character, additional vanilla, and mild spice. It has a somewhat graham cracker-like quality. The finish echoes the honey and a slight tanginess. This is entirely drinkable and enjoyable. I wouldn't label it watery, but it has a very light feel overall to me. The flavors are delicate, but in a pleasingly gentle way rather than an irritatingly weak manner. I find the flavor graph and review from the distiller quite perplexing, as in my experience, sweetness is the dominant flavor here with very little spice. "Rich" and "full" are not descriptors I would apply to this. At only $15 it is worth sampling. But I likely won't purchase this bottle again. Because we are all aware of what else costs merely $15...

The aroma is complex with Banana chips, oak, and finishes with big league chew bubblegum. Occasionally I detect some artificial grape, almost like a grape popsicle. The flavor is corn syrup, banana milkshake, white granulated sugar, and then some soft oak. If you search carefully, there's a little rye spice that comes across as a little black pepper, but it's very much in the background. The finish is very short and pleasant, but it lacks strength and tends to make me use this as a mixer instead of a sipper. It makes good sours and old fashioned style cocktails because it has some fruit elements and some oak.

The aroma consists of corn, oak, and alcohol; decidedly uninspiring, but not unpleasant. The palate is superior, beginning with oak and a faint cedar spice, leading to a brief hint of dark bitter cherries before subsiding into a pleasant numbness. Don't get too excited thinking this is a major find, because it's not. Or at least, it shouldn't be. However, it is a very solid drink, and at under $15, it's practically unbeatable for an uncomplicated, tasty bourbon. This has become a staple in my rotation for mixers alongside Old Grand Dad BiB, Old Crow, Evan Williams, and Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Rye.

Received this complimentary. Excellent for zero cost. And frankly, it's good at the list price. My go-to bourbon is wild turkey 101. It'll be another four years of current economic conditions before I change. That said, I'm happy I tried this! The aroma is a bit sharp. But the flavor compensates. I detect candy. Pungent. But it concludes well. I perceive perhaps grape or raisin notes. I've had far pricier bourbons that taste much worse (e.g., Thomas s moore chardonnay cask!). This likely aligns with JB or JD. It's standard. But high proof, which is good.

The aroma is sweet with a subtle spiciness. Vanilla is the most prominent note, accompanied by hints of cherry, molasses, nutmeg, allspice, gingerbread, and cinnamon. The taste features vanilla, green apple, cinnamon, cherry, ginger, and black pepper. The finish is spicy and woody, with notes of tart cherry, green apple, citrus, orange peel, and black pepper. Overall, this was a very enjoyable bourbon for its cost (under $20 USD). I plan to keep this as a regular, inexpensive, everyday bourbon.

The aroma offers some fruit and flowers, transitioning into spicy new wood as the fruit notes mature into a lovely ripeness. The taste is mellow, filling the mouth with ripe fruit, some floral rye, and spicy oak. Faint traces of vanilla and brown sugar emerge at the end as the spice becomes dominant. The lingering sensation is full of spice and lasts a moderate time, with the fruit flavors fading into oak before disappearing completely.