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Ancient Age vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Put Ancient Age next to Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$34 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 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 Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: 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.
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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).