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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Larceny Small Batch
Put Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond next to Larceny Small Batch and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a classic, high-wheat stalwart.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Larceny Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +8 proof | 92 proof (46% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$25 – $32 ~$22 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.
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Larceny Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/2 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10
oak 7/4 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
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 Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch).