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Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 +3 yr | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
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Flavor Profile
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 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 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 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.
- 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.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).