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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Bulleit Bourbon
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Bulleit Bourbon are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$25 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Bulleit Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$25 – $32 ~$22 less |
- 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.
Bulleit Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bulleit Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/7 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 3 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon: The bottle that put high-rye bourbon in every cocktail bar in the country. Peppery and dry with the familiar MGP dill note, and it earns its place behind the bar more than in a glass on its own.
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.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon if you want a dry, peppery, high-rye bourbon built for cocktails and available absolutely everywhere at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Bulleit Bourbon).