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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Larceny Small Batch
Old Forester 86 Proof and Larceny Small Batch sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, wheat-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | Larceny Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 92 proof (46% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$20 – $26 ~$6 less | ~$25 – $32 |
- 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.
Larceny Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Larceny Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/2 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 6/8 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 8 out of 10
oak 4/4 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 4 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 5 out of 10
heat 3/3 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Larceny Small Batch 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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.
- Larceny Small Batch: Heaven Hill's everyday wheater and the most affordable way into the style. Soft honey and butterscotch with almost no spice, and a texture that makes the low price hard to argue with.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
- Go with Larceny Small Batch if you want an easy, sweet, genuinely inexpensive wheated bourbon with slightly more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat, rocks, cocktails (Larceny Small Batch).