Old Forester

Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond

Specifications

Type / Style	High-Rye Bourbon
Distillery	Brown-Forman
Mash Bill	72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
Age	4 years
Proof	100 proof (50% ABV)
Approx. Price	~$45 – $55 (as of 2026-08)
Availability	Widely available

Mash bill: Published by the distillery. Brown-Forman publishes the shared Old Forester and Woodford Reserve mash bill.

Tasting Notes

The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.

Nose

dark caramel, banana bread, toasted oak, clove

Palate

rich toffee, cinnamon, dry oak, char

Finish

long, warm, oak and spice

Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned.

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Compare against

The closest bottles in this list by flavor profile.

vs Old Forester 100 Proof High-Rye Bourbon 100 proof (50% ABV) · ~$26 – $32 vs Barrell Foundation Bourbon High-Rye Bourbon 100 proof (50% ABV) · ~$50 – $60 vs Penelope Toasted Series High-Rye Bourbon 100 proof (50% ABV) · ~$55 – $70 vs Uncle Nearest 1856 Traditional Tennessee Whiskey 100 proof (50% ABV) · ~$55 – $70

Sources

Brown-Forman official product information