Compare
Larceny Small Batch vs Old Forester 86 Proof
Larceny Small Batch and Old Forester 86 Proof sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, wheat-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Larceny Small Batch | Old Forester 86 Proof |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 92 proof (46% ABV) +6 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$25 – $32 | ~$20 – $26 ~$6 less |
- 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Larceny Small Batch Old Forester 86 Proof
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 2/5 spice: Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10, Old Forester 86 Proof 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 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch); cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof).