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Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Put Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat next to Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and you have a contemporary, high-wheat craft build set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 6 years +2 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 106 proof (53% ABV) +6 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$45 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 3/6 spice: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 8/5 fruit: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 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 Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
- 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 Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak with slightly more proof behind it.
- 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, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).