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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | 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 | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$45 – $55 ~$43 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 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
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/5 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced 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 Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- 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 at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).