Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$150 – $180).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye 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) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$115 less | ~$150 – $180 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 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.
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/9 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 9 out of 10
nuttiness 2/5 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 6 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 8 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend: Older sourced bourbon finished in sherry, Cognac and then Armagnac casks. Dense dried fruit, fig and orange over cigar leaf and charred oak.
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 Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend if you want a fruit-packed, multi-cask-finished bourbon built to go with a cigar.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat (Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend).