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Johnny Drum Private Stock vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Johnny Drum Private Stock and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Johnny Drum Private Stock Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/3 nuttiness: Johnny Drum Private Stock 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Johnny Drum Private Stock 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Johnny Drum Private Stock 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 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 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 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 (Johnny Drum Private Stock); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).