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Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Comparing Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select and Old Forester 86 Proof reveals a matchup between a traditional, even-keeled Kentucky staple and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Tennessee Whiskey | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 80% corn, 8% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 94 proof (47% ABV) +8 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$20 – $26 ~$27 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/4 oak: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 7 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
fruit 4/5 fruit: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 6 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select: Barrels pulled from the top of the rickhouse, where the temperature swings are hardest, and it shows as considerably more oak than any standard Jack. A genuinely different proposition from the black label.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select if you want a distinctly oakier, more concentrated Tennessee whiskey with barrel-to-barrel character with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).