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Old Forester Statesman vs Old Grand-Dad 114
Old Forester Statesman and Old Grand-Dad 114 sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Old Grand-Dad 114 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 114 proof (57% ABV) +19 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$28 – $35 ~$21 less |
- Old Grand-Dad 114 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.
Old Grand-Dad 114
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Old Grand-Dad 114
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/9 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 9 out of 10
heat 4/8 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 8 out of 10
fruit 7/4 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 4 out of 10
nuttiness 2/5 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 5 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Old Grand-Dad 114 6 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line 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 Grand-Dad 114: The best proof-per-dollar in American whiskey and it is not especially close. The 27% rye mash at 114 proof is loud, peppery and completely unsubtle, which is exactly why it makes such a good old-fashioned.
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 Grand-Dad 114 if you want maximum rye spice and proof for under thirty dollars.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad 114).