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Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond vs Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and a modern, wheated craft expression.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond | Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 64% corn, 24% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | 6 years +2 yr |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$45 – $55 | ~$45 – $60 |
- 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.
Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 6/3 spice: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 4 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 5/5 heat: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10, Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond: A sweet-mash, bonded wheated bourbon from a distillery founded by two fermentation scientists, and the technical care shows in how clean it tastes. One of the strongest craft arguments on the shelf.
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 Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, sweet-mash wheater from a modern distillery doing genuinely careful work with an older age statement.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond); neat, rocks (Wilderness Trail Bottled-in-Bond).