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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Old Forester Statesman
Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Old Forester Statesman are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is price (~$24 – $30 vs. ~$50 – $55).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Old Forester Statesman |
|---|---|---|
| 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) +5 proof | 95 proof (47.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$26 less | ~$50 – $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 Statesman
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Old Forester Statesman
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 5/8 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 8 out of 10
spice 8/5 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
fruit 4/7 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 7 out of 10
nuttiness 5/2 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 2 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 4 out of 10
oak 5/5 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Old Forester Statesman 5 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The clearest split is how sweet each one drinks.
- 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 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.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Old Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money.
- Go with Old Forester Statesman if you want a bright, cherry-sweet Old Forester that sits between the 100 and 1920 in weight.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks, old-fashioned (Old Forester Statesman).