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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Four Roses Bourbon
Put Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond next to Four Roses Bourbon and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-rye stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Four Roses Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 20% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +20 proof | 80 proof (40% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$22 – $28 ~$25 less |
- 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.
Four Roses Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Four Roses Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/3 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
heat 5/2 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
spice 6/5 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Four Roses Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Four Roses Bourbon: The yellow label entry point, blending all ten Four Roses recipes at a gentle 80 proof. Light and fruity to a fault, but the house floral character is already recognisable and it mixes beautifully.
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 more proof behind it.
- Go with Four Roses Bourbon if you want the Four Roses fruit-and-floral signature at its lightest and cheapest.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); cocktails, highball, rocks (Four Roses Bourbon).