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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Wild Turkey 101
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Wild Turkey 101 are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$25 – $30).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$25 – $30 ~$23 less |
- 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/8 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
heat 3/6 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
fruit 6/4 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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.
- Go with Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).