Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +21 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$5 less | ~$40 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 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.
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/6 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
fruit 6/8 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon: Kentucky bourbon finished in the Louisville brandy maker's apple brandy barrels. The finish reads like caramel apple pie: baked apple and cinnamon over a sturdy oak base.
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 slightly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon if you want an apple-brandy-finished bourbon that tastes like caramel apple pie with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon).