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Old Forester 1870 Original Batch vs Yellowstone Select
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch and Yellowstone Select sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch | Yellowstone Select |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) | 93 proof (46.5% ABV) +3 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$5 less |
- Yellowstone Select 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.
Yellowstone Select
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Yellowstone Select
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 6 out of 10
fruit 6/5 fruit: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
spice 4/4 spice: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 5 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/2 nuttiness: Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10, Yellowstone Select 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- Yellowstone Select: A revived historic brand from Limestone Branch. Light and creamy, with toasted oak, vanilla and peach and a short, peppery finish. Part of the proceeds support Yellowstone National Park.
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 Yellowstone Select if you want a light, creamy everyday sipper with a historic name at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch); rocks, highball, old-fashioned (Yellowstone Select).