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Johnny Drum Private Stock vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Johnny Drum Private Stock and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Johnny Drum Private Stock | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$35 – $45 ~$10 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Johnny Drum Private Stock does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Johnny Drum Private Stock
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Johnny Drum Private Stock Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/4 spice: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Johnny Drum Private Stock: An old-school Willett label at 101 proof. Oily and dessert-like, with baked apple, almond and custard, and rye-like mint and spice on the finish.
- 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 Johnny Drum Private Stock if you want an oily, dessert-like 101-proof pour with old-school Willett character at a slightly lower price point.
- 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 (Johnny Drum Private Stock); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).