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Old Forester Statesman vs 1792 Small Batch
Old Forester Statesman and 1792 Small Batch are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$50 – $55 vs. ~$26 – $34).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | 1792 Small Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | Not disclosed |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 93.7 proof (46.9% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$26 – $34 ~$23 less |
- 1792 Small Batch does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Forester Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
1792 Small Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman 1792 Small Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 4 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, 1792 Small Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Sweetness is where these two part ways.
- Old Forester Statesman: Old Forester's fruit-forward middle child, first made for a spy movie tie-in. Bright cherry and brown sugar lead, with cocoa and a touch of the house banana note.
- 1792 Small Batch: Barton's flagship and one of the most under-discussed bottles at its price. A high-rye character with cocoa and orange peel, and considerably more going on than the shelf position suggests.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
- Go with 1792 Small Batch if you want an overlooked, spice-forward Kentucky bourbon that punches above its price.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (1792 Small Batch).