Compare
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a modern, wheated craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 64% corn, 24% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $60 |
- 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.
Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
spice 4/3 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- 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.
- Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond: A sweet-mash, bonded wheated bourbon from a distillery founded by two fermentation scientists, and the technical care shows in how clean it tastes. One of the strongest craft arguments on the shelf.
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 Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, sweet-mash wheater from a modern distillery doing genuinely careful work with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, rocks (Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond).