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Old Forester Statesman vs Wild Turkey 101
Comparing Old Forester Statesman and Wild Turkey 101 is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$50 – $55 vs. ~$25 – $30).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Wild Turkey 101 |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) | 101 proof (50.5% ABV) +6 proof |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$25 – $30 ~$25 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.
Wild Turkey 101
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Wild Turkey 101
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 5/8 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 8 out of 10
fruit 7/4 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 4 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
oak 5/7 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 7 out of 10
heat 4/6 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Wild Turkey 101 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The gap between these two is mostly about spice.
- 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.
- Wild Turkey 101: The workhorse high-rye Kentucky bourbon and one of the best proof-to-price ratios anywhere. Vanilla and orange up front, then a genuinely spicy, peppery, tobacco-tinged middle that punches well above $25.
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 Wild Turkey 101 if you want bold rye spice and real proof at the lowest price of anything comparable.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Wild Turkey 101).