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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Old Grand-Dad Bonded is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$24 – $30).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$24 – $30 ~$23 less |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/5 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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 Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).