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Penelope Toasted Series vs Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
On paper Penelope Toasted Series and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch are near neighbours — both high-rye bourbons — so proof (100 vs. 90) is what actually decides it.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Penelope Toasted Series | Old Forester 1870 Original Batch |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | High-Rye Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill | 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | No age statement |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) +10 proof | 90 proof (45% ABV) |
| Approx. Price 1 | ~$55 – $70 | ~$45 – $55 ~$13 less |
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Penelope Toasted Series
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Penelope Toasted Series Old Forester 1870 Original Batch
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 7/5 oak: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 5 out of 10
fruit 4/6 fruit: Penelope Toasted Series 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 6 out of 10
heat 5/3 heat: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 3 out of 10
spice 5/4 spice: Penelope Toasted Series 5 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 4 out of 10
nuttiness 3/2 nuttiness: Penelope Toasted Series 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 2 out of 10
sweetness 7/7 sweetness: Penelope Toasted Series 7 out of 10, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Penelope Toasted Series: Finished in a second, freshly toasted barrel, which pushes it toward toffee, roasted coffee and darker oak. The toast level changes from batch to batch.
- 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 Toasted Series if you want a toasty, coffee-and-toffee bourbon from a second-barrel finish with more proof behind it and 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 Toasted Series); neat, rocks, highball (Old Forester 1870 Original Batch).