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Four Roses Bourbon vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Put Four Roses Bourbon next to Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Four Roses Bourbon | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Four Roses Bourbon Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 3/7 oak: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 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 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 Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
- 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 cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).