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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +25 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$60 – $65 |
- 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 Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/8 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
spice 4/7 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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 Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
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 Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).