Compare
Old Forester Statesman vs Woodford Reserve
Old Forester Statesman and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$50 – $55 vs. ~$35 – $42).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Forester Statesman | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No age statement |
| Proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) +5 proof | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$50 – $55 | ~$35 – $42 ~$14 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Forester Statesman Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 5/6 spice: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 7/6 fruit: Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 4/4 heat: Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 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.
- Woodford Reserve: The most widely poured premium bourbon in America, and a genuinely well-made one. Dried fruit and cocoa over a balanced 18% rye mash, finished smooth enough to please almost anyone.
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 Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).