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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 ~$18 less | ~$45 – $90 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 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.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch 5 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 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.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch: Bottled-in-bond from the same low-rye Buffalo Trace recipe, and the extra 10 proof over standard BT gives it noticeably more grip. Butterscotch and tobacco with a long, drying finish that outlasts most bottles near its shelf price.
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 lower price point.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch if you want the Buffalo Trace house profile with real structure and a bonded 100-proof backbone.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch).