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Bulleit Bourbon vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$25 – $32 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 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 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).