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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond vs Old Forester 100 Proof
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond and Old Forester 100 Proof are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $50 vs. ~$26 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond | Old Forester 100 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $50 | ~$26 – $32 ~$19 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 100 Proof
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Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond Old Forester 100 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond: Bardstown's own high-rye recipe, distilled on site rather than sourced. More than a third rye gives it a bright, minty, fruit-and-pepper profile over caramel and light oak.
- 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 Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond if you want a spicy, fruit-forward high-rye bourbon with the guarantees of a bonded label.
- 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 neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof).