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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
On paper Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so age (4 years vs. 10 years) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 68% corn, 28% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 10 years +6 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +9 proof | 91.2 proof (45.6% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $55 |
- Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year does not publish an official mash bill.
- 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.
Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10
spice 6/7 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 7 out of 10
oak 7/8 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 8 out of 10
heat 5/4 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 2 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year: The older version of Bulleit's high-rye bourbon. Ten years add a lot of oak and leather to the usual rye spice, and the finish turns dry and woody.
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 with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year if you want an oak-forward, ten-year high-rye bourbon at a gentle proof with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year).