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Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a sourced, classically built blend versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$90 – $130 | ~$45 – $55 ~$60 less |
| Availability | Limited | Widely available easier to find |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 8/5 oak: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 4/2 nuttiness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
- 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 Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor 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 (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).