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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Comparing Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch is a closer contest than it looks — both are high-rye bourbons, separated mainly by price (~$24 – $30 vs. ~$45 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 63% corn, 27% rye, 10% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 4 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$23 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-08; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Old Grand-Dad Bonded
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/4 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
heat 6/3 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
nuttiness 5/2 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 5/7 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Rye spice is the dividing line here.
- Old Grand-Dad Bonded: A bonded 100-proof high-rye bourbon for the price of a mixer, and one of the great bargains on the shelf. Cleaner and less overwhelming than the 114 while keeping the peppery rye backbone.
- Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: The first bottle in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, recreating the founder's habit of blending barrels from three warehouses. It is the lightest of the series, caramel sweet and easy.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with more proof behind it.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).