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Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Comparing Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch reveals a matchup between an uncut, spice-driven heavyweight and a traditional, spice-driven Kentucky staple.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon, Barrel Proof | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 70% corn, 25% rye, 5% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | 7 years | No age statement |
| Proof | 115.2 proof (57.6% ABV) +25 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $65 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
heat 8/3 heat: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
spice 7/4 spice: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
oak 7/5 oak: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 5/6 fruit: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land very differently on the palate for heat.
- Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year: Penelope's uncut flagship, now with a seven-year age statement. It is richer and spicier than the Four Grain, with caramel and rye spice carried by a lot of proof.
- 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 Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year if you want a well-priced, seven-year, uncut blend with real depth and spice with the texture that comes from skipping chill filtration.
- Go with Old Forester 1870 Original Batch if you want the gentlest, most easygoing pour in the Whiskey Row Series at a lower price point.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).