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Four Roses Bourbon vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Comparing Four Roses Bourbon and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$22 – $28 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$22 – $28 ~$25 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/5 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
heat 2/3 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
- 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).