Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Put Old Forester 1870 Original Batch next to Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a contemporary, high-wheat craft build.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 5% rye, 25% wheat |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| 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.
Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Didn't care for this one.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 6 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/2 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon 2 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.
- Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon: An organic, wheat-heavy bourbon from a Michigan craft distillery. It stays round and caramel sweet on the palate with a peppery edge, while the nose is quiet and still a little young.
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 Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon if you want an organic, Midwest craft wheater with a round, caramel-forward body.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Journeyman Featherbone Bourbon).