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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Penelope Toasted Series
On paper Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Penelope Toasted Series are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (90 vs. 100) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Penelope Toasted Series |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less | ~$55 – $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 Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Penelope Toasted Series
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating 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.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
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 Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with more proof behind it and with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Toasted Series).