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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is age (4 years vs. 6 years).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 6 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $50 |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/8 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 8 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/7 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 2 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond: Bardstown's own high-rye recipe, distilled on site rather than sourced. More than a third rye gives it a bright, minty, fruit-and-pepper profile over caramel and light oak.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it.
- Go with Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond if you want a spicy, fruit-forward high-rye bourbon with the guarantees of a bonded label with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Rye Bottled-in-Bond).