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Kentucky Owl Batch 12 vs Old Forester Statesman
Put Kentucky Owl Batch 12 next to Old Forester Statesman and you have a full-proof, unfiltered heavyweight set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +21 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$300 – $400 | ~$50 – $55 ~$298 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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Kentucky Owl Batch 12 Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 4/7 fruit: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
heat 7/4 heat: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
spice 7/5 spice: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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 Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight at a significantly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).