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Old Forester Statesman vs Rowan's Creek
Old Forester Statesman and Rowan's Creek sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, rye-forward classic versus an old-guard, classically built classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Rowan's Creek |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 100.1 proof (50.0% ABV) +5 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$40 – $50 ~$8 less |
- Rowan's Creek 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.
Rowan's Creek
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Rowan's Creek
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 7/4 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 6 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 7 out of 10
oak 5/4 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 4 out of 10
heat 4/5 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 5 out of 10
nuttiness 2/2 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Rowan's Creek 2 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- 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.
- Rowan's Creek: A small-batch Willett bottling that tastes rye-forward and herbal. Honey and caramel sit under mint, hay and warm spice, with a peppermint lift on the finish.
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 Rowan's Creek if you want an herbal, minty, rye-forward Willett bottling at a slightly lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Rowan's Creek).