Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Penelope Architect
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Penelope Architect reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a blender-built, even-keeled bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Penelope Architect |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 7% rye, 15% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 104 proof (52% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$15 less | ~$60 – $70 |
- 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.
Penelope Architect
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Penelope Architect
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/6 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Penelope Architect 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Architect 7 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Architect 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Architect 6 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.
- Penelope Architect: Penelope's four-grain blend finished with French oak staves chosen for their tannin. The French oak adds berry, cherry and warm spice to a vanilla-heavy base.
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 Penelope Architect if you want a four-grain bourbon with a French oak finish that adds berries and warm spice with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Architect).