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Ancient Age vs Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Comparing Ancient Age and Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$14 – $18 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 10 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$34 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Ancient Age and Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year do not publish an official mash bill.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
Ancient Age
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/8 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 8 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 7 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 2 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Ancient Age: The bottom rung of the Buffalo Trace ladder and priced accordingly. Thin and simple at 80 proof, but it is recognisably the Mash Bill #2 recipe and it does its job in a highball without complaint.
- Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year: The older version of Bulleit's high-rye bourbon. Ten years add a lot of oak and leather to the usual rye spice, and the finish turns dry and woody.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Ancient Age if you want the cheapest honest mixer in the lineup and you are not drinking it neat.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year if you want an oak-forward, ten-year high-rye bourbon at a gentle proof.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, rocks (Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year).