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Old Grand-Dad Bonded vs Woodford Reserve
Old Grand-Dad Bonded and Woodford Reserve are cut from similar cloth: two takes on high-rye bourbons, where the real difference is proof (100 vs. 90.4).
Key Specifications
| Feature | Old Grand-Dad Bonded | Woodford Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$24 – $30 ~$12 less | ~$35 – $42 |
- 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.
Woodford Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Woodford Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
spice 8/6 spice: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 8 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 4 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
heat 6/4 heat: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 6 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 4 out of 10
nuttiness 5/3 nuttiness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 3 out of 10
sweetness 5/6 sweetness: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 out of 10
oak 5/6 oak: Old Grand-Dad Bonded 5 out of 10, Woodford Reserve 6 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.
- 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 Grand-Dad Bonded if you want a bonded, high-rye workhorse at mixer money with slightly more proof behind it.
- Go with Woodford Reserve if you want a polished, widely available crowd-pleaser that never puts a foot wrong.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned, cocktails (Old Grand-Dad Bonded); neat, rocks, old-fashioned, cocktails (Woodford Reserve).