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Ancient Age vs Bulleit Bourbon
Ancient Age and Bulleit Bourbon are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (80 vs. 90).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$13 less | ~$25 – $32 |
- Ancient Age does 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
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/7 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
oak 3/5 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/5 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
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 if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).