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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Booker’s
Put Old Forester 1870 Original Batch next to Booker’s and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against an uncut, high-rye heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Booker’s |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 125 proof (62.5% ABV) +35 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$48 less | ~$85 – $110 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Booker’s 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
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Booker’s
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Booker’s
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/10 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Booker’s 10 out of 10
nuttiness 2/8 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Booker’s 8 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Booker’s 7 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Booker’s 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Booker’s 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Booker’s 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Booker’s: Uncut, unfiltered Beam at batch strength, and the most concentrated expression of the house peanut-and-oak character. Enormous and hot, with a finish that goes on well past where you expect it to stop.
Which One Should You Choose?
- 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.
- Go with Booker’s if you want the Beam house style at full power and you have water on the table with significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat (Booker’s).