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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Comparing Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Old Grand-Dad Bonded is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$45 – $55 vs. ~$24 – $30).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Old Grand-Dad Bonded |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 4 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$24 – $30 ~$23 less |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded 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.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/5 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
spice 6/8 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/5 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10
fruit 5/4 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10
heat 5/6 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 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.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
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.
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded).