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Wild Turkey 81 vs Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Wild Turkey 81 and Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: an old-guard, classically built classic versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Wild Turkey 81 | Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley | 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 4 years |
| Proof | 81 proof (40.5% ABV) | 100 proof (50% ABV) +19 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$20 – $25 ~$28 less | ~$45 – $55 |
- Wild Turkey 81 does not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Wild Turkey 81
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Wild Turkey 81 Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
oak 4/7 oak: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
heat 2/5 heat: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
spice 4/6 spice: Wild Turkey 81 4 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 6 out of 10
fruit 3/5 fruit: Wild Turkey 81 3 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 5 out of 10
sweetness 6/7 sweetness: Wild Turkey 81 6 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 7 out of 10
nuttiness 2/3 nuttiness: Wild Turkey 81 2 out of 10, Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond 3 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
Oak is doing most of the differentiating here.
- Wild Turkey 81: The same mash bill and No. 4 char as Wild Turkey 101, cut to 81 proof. Honey and toffee come through clearly, but the body and spice are much lighter.
- Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond: The bonded entry in the Whiskey Row series and a noticeable step up in density from the standard 100. More oak and more weight, though the price gap to the 100 proof is harder to justify than the flavour gap suggests.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Wild Turkey 81 if you want a lighter Wild Turkey built for mixing at a lower price point.
- Go with Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond if you want a bonded, denser take on the Old Forester profile with more barrel behind it with more proof behind it.
Best enjoyed highball, cocktails (Wild Turkey 81); neat, old-fashioned (Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond).