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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Comparing Old Forester 86 Proof and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by proof (86 vs. 100).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +14 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$20 – $26 ~$27 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- 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.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 3/5 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 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.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).