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Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Comparing Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year | 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 | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$35 – $45 ~$10 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 5/2 nuttiness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year: Seven years, bonded, and priced sensibly — the specification sheet reads like something from twenty years ago. Balanced and oak-leaning without ever getting heavy.
- 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 Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year if you want a bonded, age-stated Kentucky bourbon that gets the fundamentals right for under forty dollars with more proof behind it.
- 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 (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).