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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is age (6 years vs. 4 years).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 +2 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $50 | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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 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 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 with an older age statement.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).