Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Kentucky Owl Batch 12 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an undiluted barrel-strength pour.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Kentucky Owl Batch 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 115.8 proof (57.9% ABV) +26 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$300 less | ~$300 – $400 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12 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.
Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Owl Batch 12
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/7 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 7 out of 10
oak 5/8 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 8 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Kentucky Owl Batch 12 3 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.
- Kentucky Owl Batch 12: A high-end blend of young and older sourced Kentucky bourbons. Leather, smoky oak and caramel, with a peppery, spice-forward palate.
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 Kentucky Owl Batch 12 if you want a spicy, leathery, high-end blended bourbon with significantly more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat (Kentucky Owl Batch 12).