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Old Forester 86 Proof vs Woodford Reserve
Old Forester 86 Proof and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$20 – $26 vs. ~$35 – $42).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester 86 Proof | 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 | 86 proof (43% ABV) | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) +4 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$20 – $26 ~$16 less | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester 86 Proof Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/6 oak: Old Forester 86 Proof 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Old Forester 86 Proof 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 3/4 heat: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
sweetness 6/6 sweetness: Old Forester 86 Proof 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Old Forester 86 Proof 3 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 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.
- 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 86 Proof if you want the Old Forester house character at the lowest possible price.
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
Best enjoyed cocktails, highball, rocks (Old Forester 86 Proof); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).