Very Old Barton 86 Proof Bourbon

1.75L from VA ABC. These show up on the shelves in VA 3 or 4 times a year in limited supply, and only in the big bottle; recently customers are limited to one bottle per day. Odd for a budget bourbon, but it is pretty scarce around here. When I started really getting into bourbon a couple years ago, I had researched some articles about best budget bourbons, and best bourbons only available in Kentucky. VOB made several of these lists, and so when I saw it in the local ABC I grabbed a few bottles and have grabbed a bottle whenever I happen to see it ever since . I think I always have one handle in reserve for mixing or everyday drinking in a pinch. Surprised I have not reviewed it until now. Here goes ... Neat in Glencairn at home. Nose has oak and meadow grasses, hint of banana, mild spice. Eh. Taste is sharp on the front, with oak, red hots, crabapples, then some dried grasses and a touch of heat on the finish. VOB is fine for what it is. Here, in NOVA, it remains relatively unknown, and that makes it stand out a little from the usual Old Granddad or Evan Williams on the shelf. What makes it truly worthwhile for me is the crazy low price and its utter inoffensiveness. 7/16/20

Open 4 months Nose - Faint peanut brittle, faint butterscotch and caramel, bubble gum, artificial fruit, no ethanol or oak present. Palate - Watery, young oak, little to no sugar or fruit. The finish is short, a little more oak and tannins, first hint of ethanol. For me this is the most overrated cheap bourbon on the market. It is priced correctly, I just don't understand its scarcity. It is almost impossible to find in ABC stores in larger cities, and when it's available it moves very fast. This tastes kind of like 1792 after it has been poured on the rocks, ice has melted, and it sat at room temperature for months. I would take Evan Williams or Jim Beam over this any day of the week. It makes sense why this is scarce because the same people who hunt Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, and Blanton's hunt for this (Facebook group references). They love simple, sweet, overrated low proof bourbon with little complexity.

It smells of fingernail polish remover and tastes of Wonka Runts (the little hard fruit candies), it’s like fake sweet. On a blind tasting I would’ve guessed this was a flavored Canadian whiskey. It’s not a “bad” taste necessarily, it has its place… but its place is in a barbershop’s dime candy bank, not what I personally want in a whiskey glass. Even if it had a higher proof, I still doubt I’d buy a bottle.

Disclaimer: I’m a beginner at actually drinking to taste. This one tastes pretty simple to me. I think I’ll keep this on hand for when I want to have a bit without diving into more expensive bottles. On the nose I get some sweetness, maybe cherry. On the palate some smokiness, quite sweet, some woody tones. I’d buy again.

It’s exactly what you’d expect from a 24 dollar 1.75 liter bottle of bourbon. By itself, nothing remarkable. The typical bourbon notes are there, and a long spicy finish are intriguing— but it’s mostly alcohol. As a bar stables it’s fine for a mixer— my preferred use is in a Kentucky mule.

For $10 this is a simple-flavored, easy sipper. Nose: Slight oak with a tad bit of burnt sugar Taste: Sweet, normaln bourbon. Not a huge flavor punch sure to the low proof. Easy to pay $10 for. Guess about it's class. Look forward to trying VOB 100