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Old Forester Statesman vs Redemption Bourbon
Comparing Old Forester Statesman and Redemption Bourbon is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$50 – $55 vs. ~$25 – $32).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Redemption Bourbon |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +11 proof | 84 proof (42% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$25 – $32 ~$24 less |
- 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.
Redemption Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Redemption Bourbon
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/5 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Redemption Bourbon 7 out of 10
fruit 7/5 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Redemption Bourbon 5 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Redemption Bourbon 4 out of 10
heat 4/3 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Redemption Bourbon 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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.
- Redemption Bourbon: Straightforward sourced MGP at a modest proof, and about as clear a reference sample of the high-rye MGP profile as you can buy. Thin neat, but a reliable and inexpensive cocktail base.
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 with more proof behind it.
- Go with Redemption Bourbon if you want an inexpensive, unambiguous example of the MGP high-rye style for mixing at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); old-fashioned, cocktails, highball (Redemption Bourbon).