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Kentucky Owl Batch 12 vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Kentucky Owl Batch 12 and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an undiluted barrel-strength pour versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) +26 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$300 – $400 | ~$45 – $55 ~$300 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Kentucky Owl Batch 12 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/3 heat: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 8/5 oak: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
- 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 Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
Best enjoyed neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).