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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Woodford Reserve
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$35 – $42).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$35 – $42 ~$12 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 4/6 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
fruit 6/6 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).