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Ancient Age vs Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Ancient Age and Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$129 less | ~$110 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- 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.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
spice 4/2 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 2/4 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 3 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.
- Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond: The decanter series, released twice a year at varying ages, and Heaven Hill's most serious wheated statement. Age shows as polished oak and stewed fruit rather than tannin, but you pay handsomely for the bottle.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond if you want an aged, bonded wheater in a presentation bottle and the price is not the obstacle with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat (Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond).