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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Noah's Mill
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Noah's Mill sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Noah's Mill |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional 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) | 114.3 proof (57.1% ABV) +24 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$15 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- Noah's Mill 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.
Noah's Mill
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Noah's Mill
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
nuttiness 2/7 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Noah's Mill 7 out of 10
heat 3/7 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Noah's Mill 7 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Noah's Mill 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Noah's Mill 6 out of 10
fruit 6/7 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Noah's Mill 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Noah's Mill 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Nutty, grain-driven character is the divider.
- 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.
- Noah's Mill: A high-proof Willett blend with a lot of nutty and fruity character. Peanut, golden raisin and jam make it taste like peanut butter and jelly, and it finishes very dry.
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 lower price point.
- Go with Noah's Mill if you want a high-proof, nutty, jammy Willett bourbon with a bone-dry finish.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat (Noah's Mill).