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Booker’s vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Put Booker’s next to Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years +3 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +25 proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 | ~$45 – $55 ~$48 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Booker’s 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
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/5 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 8/3 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 8/7 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
- 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 Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table with significantly more proof behind it and 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 at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).