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Ancient Age vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Ancient Age and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Ancient Age | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +35 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$14 – $18 ~$47 less | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Ancient Age Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 2/7 heat: Ancient Age 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
oak 3/7 oak: Ancient Age 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Ancient Age 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Ancient Age 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball (Ancient Age); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).