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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Comparing Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year reveals a matchup between a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple and an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 7 years |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$60 – $65 |
- 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.
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
heat 7/8 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
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 Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year).