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Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year vs Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Comparing Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 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 1920 Prohibition Style |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 115 proof (57.5% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$60 – $65 | ~$55 – $70 |
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
sweetness 7/8 sweetness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 8 out of 10
heat 8/7 heat: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 8 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
spice 7/7 spice: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
oak 7/7 oak: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 7 out of 10
fruit 5/5 fruit: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 5 out of 10
nuttiness 3/3 nuttiness: Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
These two land close together on every flavor axis — the differences are in texture and proof more than character.
- 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 1920 Prohibition Style: Dense and syrupy for its age, with molasses and dark chocolate carrying a serious 115-proof punch. The high rye reads as baking spice rather than sharpness, and the body is unusually thick.
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 1920 Prohibition Style if you want a rich, high-proof, dessert-leaning bourbon with real weight in the glass.
Best enjoyed neat, old-fashioned (Penelope Barrel Strength 7 Year); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style).