Old Forester 86 Proof
Louisville, Kentucky
Brown-Forman's flagship at the entry strength. A moderately high-rye mashbill, fully published, bottled at 86 proof.
- Aging
- New charred oak, no age statement
- Mashbill
- Corn 72%Rye 18%Malted barley 10%
- Congeners
- High
- Histamines
- Moderate
- Polyphenols
- Moderate
- Sulfites
- Very Low
- Tannins
- Moderate
- Sugar
- Low
- Additives
- Very Low
- Calories
- 105
- Sugar
- 0g
15.1g ethanol at 43% ABV. No sugar, so every calorie here is alcohol.
In its favor
- ✓86 proof
- ✓Mashbill published in full
- ✓No additives permitted under US law
What to watch
- !18% rye pushes the aromatic congener load up
- !No age statement
Factor by factor
Congeners High ▾
Byproducts of fermentation (methanol, acetaldehyde, fusel alcohols). Strongly linked to hangover severity; darker, less-distilled spirits carry more.
Histamines Moderate ▾
Produced by bacteria during fermentation/aging. Trigger flushing, headaches, congestion in sensitive drinkers. High in red wine, beer, aged spirits.
Polyphenols Moderate ▾
Plant compounds with antioxidant activity. Slightly protective at low doses but at high concentrations may worsen hangover via tannin/quercetin reactions.
Sulfites Very Low ▾
Preservatives (SO₂) added to wine and some beers. Common trigger of headaches, asthma, and allergic-type reactions.
Tannins Moderate ▾
Astringent polyphenols from skins, seeds, barrels. Bind proteins, slow alcohol clearance, and aggravate dehydration-style symptoms.
Sugar Low ▾
Residual sugar amplifies hangover via blood-sugar swings and dehydration. Liqueurs and cocktails are the main offenders.
Additives Very Low ▾
Colorants, flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbates. Cheap spirits and ready-to-drinks often hide these in trade-secret formulas.
Old Forester’s 86 proof bottling is the same whiskey philosophy as its higher-proof siblings at a lower dose. The mashbill is 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley, and Brown-Forman publishes it, which is more than several better-known distilleries do.
The rye fraction matters here. Rye contributes more aromatic congeners than corn or wheat, which is why a high-rye bourbon reads spicier and why wheated bourbons tend to sit slightly lower on this page. At 18% it is meaningful but not extreme.
Old Forester 86 Proof questions
How many calories are in a shot of Old Forester 86 Proof? ▾
About 105 calories in a 1.5oz shot at 43% ABV. All of them come from the alcohol, since there is no sugar.
Does Old Forester 86 Proof have sugar? ▾
No. Old Forester 86 Proof has 0g of sugar per 1.5oz serving.
Is Old Forester 86 Proof gluten-free? ▾
Not by label. Old Forester 86 Proof is distilled from rye and barley, so US rules bar it from claiming gluten-free. Distillation does remove the gluten protein, and the Celiac Disease Foundation considers distilled spirits safe for most coeliacs. If you would rather avoid the question, pick a spirit distilled from corn, potato, grape or agave.
What is Old Forester 86 Proof made from? ▾
Old Forester 86 Proof is made from a mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley.
What proof is Old Forester 86 Proof? ▾
Old Forester 86 Proof is 86 proof, which is 43% alcohol by volume.
Does Old Forester 86 Proof give you a bad hangover? ▾
Old Forester 86 Proof scores 6/10 on the SpiritFacts Hangover Index, against 7/10 for bourbon overall. The main drivers are its congeners.
Is Old Forester 86 Proof vegan? ▾
Yes. Old Forester 86 Proof is listed as vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients or fining agents.