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Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style vs Woodford Reserve
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and Woodford Reserve 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 | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) +25 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$35 – $42 ~$24 less |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 7/4 heat: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 7/6 spice: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 7/6 oak: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).