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Bulleit Bourbon vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Bulleit Bourbon and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$25 – $32 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$22 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 7/4 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
- 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 Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a lower price point.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).