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Ancient Age vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Put Ancient Age next to Old Forester 100 Proof and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$13 less | ~$26 – $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.
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/6 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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 Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
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 Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).