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Booker’s vs Old Forester Statesman
Put Booker’s next to Old Forester Statesman and you have an uncut, high-rye heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Booker’s | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +30 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $110 | ~$50 – $55 ~$45 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Booker’s Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 10/4 heat: Booker’s 10 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
nuttiness 8/2 nuttiness: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Booker’s 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 4/7 fruit: Booker’s 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Booker’s 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 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 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 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 the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Booker’s); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).