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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Four Roses Single Barrel
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Four Roses Single Barrel are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (90 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Four Roses Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 60% corn, 35% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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.
Four Roses Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Four Roses Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 6 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 7 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Four Roses Single Barrel 3 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.
- Four Roses Single Barrel: The OBSV recipe on its own at 100 proof — the highest-rye mash Four Roses uses, paired with their most floral yeast. Cherry and clove in equal measure, and a genuinely distinctive glass.
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 Four Roses Single Barrel if you want the most expressive, spice-and-fruit-forward single recipe in the Four Roses range with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Four Roses Single Barrel).