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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond vs Old Forester Statesman
Comparing Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond and Old Forester Statesman is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (100 vs. 95).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +5 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $50 ~$5 less | ~$50 – $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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/5 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 7/7 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
nuttiness 2/2 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 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 Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
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 at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).