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Old Forester Statesman vs Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Put Old Forester Statesman next to Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish and you have a classic, high-rye stalwart set against a blender-built, corn-forward bottling.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +4 proof | 91.4 proof (45.7% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 ~$58 less | ~$90 – $130 |
| Availability | Widely available easier to find | Limited |
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 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.
Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/8 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/4 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/8 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 8 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish 4 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Barrel influence is the main separator.
- 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.
- Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish: The standard Michter's bourbon given a second toasted barrel, which adds sweetness and wood to an already polished pour. Genuinely good, though the price has drifted well past what the liquid alone justifies.
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 significantly lower price point.
- Go with Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish if you want the smoothest, most polished toasted-barrel pour here and price is not the deciding factor with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat (Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish).