Compare
Old Forester 86 Proof vs E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Old Forester 86 Proof and E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $26 ~$82 less | ~$70 – $140 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Allocated |
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 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 86 Proof
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/8 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 8 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/4 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 6 out of 10
spice 5/5 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Old Forester 86 Proof: The entry bottling and the cheapest way to meet the Old Forester banana-and-caramel signature. Thin at 86 proof, but it costs very little and mixes well.
- E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel: Single barrels from the warehouse Colonel Taylor built, bonded at 100 proof. More oak and more concentration than the small batch, and one of the most sought-after regular releases Buffalo Trace makes.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price without hunting for it.
- Go with E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel if you want the most concentrated bonded expression of the Buffalo Trace profile, and the hunt does not deter you with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat (E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel).