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Old Forester Statesman vs Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Old Forester Statesman and Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a new-wave, wheat-forward craft style.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Wheated Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 53% corn, 39% wheat, 8% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 6 years |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 106 proof (53% ABV) +11 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$50 – $55 |
- 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.
Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/3 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 3 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 7 out of 10
fruit 7/8 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 8 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/2 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat: Because wheat makes up a massive 39% of the mash bill, this pour trades the aggressive spice of rye for a softer, oily mouthfeel. Expect bright fruit notes like ripe apricot and lemon on the nose, transitioning to pastry dough, light oak, and a creamy creme brulee sweetness balanced by a mild peppery backbone.
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 Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat if you want a softer, fruit-forward, contemporary profile with a richer, oily texture and lower emphasis on traditional oak with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks (Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat).