Compare
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a new-wave, classically built craft style versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 98.9 proof (49.5% ABV) +9 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 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
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/3 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series: A blend of Bardstown's own young distillate with older sourced Kentucky whiskey, which is exactly what the name describes. Polished and fruit-leaning, and a clear demonstration that the blending is the skill on show.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series if you want a well-built modern blend that shows what careful blending does rather than what age alone does with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Fusion Series); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).