Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Penelope Rio
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Penelope Rio reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a sourced, even-keeled blend.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Penelope Rio |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Four-Grain Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 74% corn, 7% rye, 16% wheat, 3% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 98 proof (49% ABV) +8 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$40 less | ~$80 – $100 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- 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 Rio
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Penelope Rio
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/9 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Rio 9 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Rio 5 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Rio 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Penelope Rio 3 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Rio 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 Rio: Penelope's four-grain blend finished in honey barrels and then amburana wood. It tastes like a cinnamon roll: honey, gingerbread and sweet baking spice.
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 significantly lower price point and without hunting for it.
- Go with Penelope Rio if you want a honey-and-amburana-finished bourbon that tastes like a cinnamon roll with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Rio).