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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Blanton’s Single Barrel and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$80 – $150 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +3 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$45 – $55 ~$65 less |
| Availability | Allocated | Widely available easier to find |
- Blanton’s Single Barrel 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
Blanton’s Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/4 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Blanton’s Single Barrel: The bottle that invented the single-barrel category and still trades largely on its horse-stopper cork and its scarcity. The whiskey itself is genuinely good — honeyed and citrus-led with nutmeg spice — but at secondary prices you are paying for the bottle as much as the pour.
- 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 Blanton’s Single Barrel if you want the original single-barrel presentation and a honeyed, citrus-led profile, and the hunt is part of the appeal.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).