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Old Forester Statesman vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
On paper Old Forester Statesman and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (95 vs. 100) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 years |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$45 – $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.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/7 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- 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.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap 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 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).