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Blanton’s Single Barrel vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Comparing Blanton’s Single Barrel and Old Forester 86 Proof is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$80 – $150 vs. ~$20 – $26).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Blanton’s Single Barrel | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +7 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$80 – $150 | ~$20 – $26 ~$92 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Blanton’s Single Barrel Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 6/4 oak: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Blanton’s Single Barrel 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Blanton’s Single Barrel 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Blanton’s Single Barrel); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).