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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Put Old Forester 1870 Original Batch next to Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, high-wheat bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% wheat, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 5 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$49 – $55 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 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.
Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 6/3 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/5 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 4/5 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon: A Notre Dame-licensed wheater given a second, double-oaked barrel. Maple, honey butter and toasted nuts lead, with charred wood and pepper on a long, warm finish.
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 without hunting for it.
- Go with Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon if you want a double-oaked wheater with maple, toasted nuts and charred wood with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, old-fashioned (Play Like a Champion Today Double Oaked Wheated Bourbon).