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Bulleit Bourbon vs Old Forester Statesman
Comparing Bulleit Bourbon and Old Forester Statesman is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$25 – $32 vs. ~$50 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Bulleit Bourbon | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$24 less | ~$50 – $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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Bulleit Bourbon Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 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 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 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 Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
Best enjoyed old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).