Compare
Old Forester Statesman vs Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea
Old Forester Statesman and Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus a blender-built, classically built bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | Traditional 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) +5 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 ~$25 less | ~$70 – $85 |
- Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 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.
Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 6 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 5 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 4 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 6 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea 3 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.
- Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea: Bourbon that spends months rocking in a ship's hold. Each voyage tastes a little different, but expect caramel and dark sugar with a savory, faintly salty edge from the trip.
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 at a lower price point.
- Go with Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea if you want a conversation-piece bourbon with a savory, slightly briny twist from aging at sea.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks (Jefferson's Ocean Aged at Sea).