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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Maker’s Mark 46
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Maker’s Mark 46 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Maker’s Mark 46 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 16% wheat, 14% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 94 proof (47% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$38 – $45 ~$9 less |
- 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.
Maker’s Mark 46
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Maker’s Mark 46
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 8 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 3 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Maker’s Mark 46 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Maker’s Mark 46: Finished with seared French oak staves inside the barrel, which adds the spice and wood that the standard bottling deliberately lacks. The most useful upgrade in the Maker's range.
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 Maker’s Mark 46 if you want the softness of Maker's Mark with real oak and spice layered over it at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Maker’s Mark 46).