Compare
Old Forester 100 Proof vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Old Forester 100 Proof and Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an uncut, rye-forward heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 100 Proof | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +15 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$26 – $32 ~$34 less | ~$60 – $65 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 100 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 100 Proof Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 5/8 heat: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
oak 6/7 oak: Old Forester 100 Proof 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 100 Proof 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 100 Proof 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 100 Proof 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Old Forester 100 Proof: The bottle most people should buy from this range: the same recipe as the 86 with enough proof to actually taste it. One of the strongest arguments on the shelf for spending six dollars more.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 100 Proof if you want the best value in the Old Forester range and a superb old-fashioned base.
- Go with Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Forester 100 Proof); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).