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Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$16 – $22 ~$31 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 4/6 fruit: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 6/5 oak: Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond: Arguably the best value in all of bourbon: a bonded 100-proof Kentucky whiskey for under twenty dollars. Straightforward vanilla and caramel with just enough oak, and nothing at all to apologise for.
- 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 Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, honest, full-proof Kentucky bourbon for the price of a cocktail.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).