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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Jim Beam Black
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Jim Beam Black sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | Jim Beam Black |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +29 proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$22 – $28 ~$38 less |
- Jim Beam Black 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Jim Beam Black
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Jim Beam Black
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/3 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/6 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
fruit 5/3 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 3 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Jim Beam Black 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Proof and heat dominate the difference.
- Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
- Jim Beam Black: The extra-aged version of the white label and a considerable step up for a few dollars more. Softer and rounder than Knob Creek with the same family peanut note, at a proof that keeps everything gentle.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
- Go with Jim Beam Black if you want the Beam house character at its most affordable and easy-going.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, rocks, cocktails (Jim Beam Black).