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Larceny Small Batch vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Put Larceny Small Batch next to Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and you have a classic, high-wheat stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Larceny Small Batch | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Wheated Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 92 proof (46% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 ~$22 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Larceny Small Batch Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/6 spice: Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
oak 4/7 oak: Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
- 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 Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon at a 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 with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).