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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 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 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 111 proof (55.5% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$5 less | ~$40 – $70 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 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.
Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 5/8 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 8 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 7 out of 10
spice 6/6 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Fruit character is what sets these apart.
- 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.
- Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon: Kentucky bourbon finished in the Louisville brandy maker's apple brandy barrels. The finish reads like caramel apple pie: baked apple and cinnamon over a sturdy oak base.
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 at a slightly lower price point.
- Go with Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon if you want an apple-brandy-finished bourbon that tastes like caramel apple pie with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned (Copper & Kings Butchertown Bourbon).