Old Forester Single Barrel 90 proof
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
Private selection of Discount Drinks in Wyandotte, MI
Floor 1; Warehouse O
45% ABV
$46.99
Website
What the Distillery Says
Every fingerprint is unique. The same is true for every barrel of bourbon. Old Forester Single Barrel is bottle from one individual barrel, so there is no other bourbon exactly like it.
Old Forester Single Barrel is crafted using the time-honored methods established over 140 years ago. Depending on the barrel selected and the angel’s share lost to evaporation during aging the barrel, each Old Forester Single Barrel selection should produce between 200 to 240 750ml bottle of bourbon.
TASTING NOTES
Each Old Forester Single Barrel selection is a unique expression of Old Forester, with a distinct flavor and aroma. Bottled at 90 proof, with a rich, robust bourbon profile, Single Barrel offers a truly one of a kind taste experience.
What Gary Says
Nose: Rich baking spices, vanilla wafers with salted caramel, sprinkle of nutmeg and subtle cinnamon.
Palate: Sweet caramel cremes that sharpens a tad with some citrus spice zip, pepper and cinnamon.
Finish: Short to moderate in length, with subtle pepper spice and charred oak.
Comments: This is a decent enough pour, although I really wish Brown-Forman would offer these at a higher proof. Compared to classic Old Forester 86 proof, this is a step up; more nuanced with a richer nose, and less oak and edge all around – no doubt a function of maturing on the first floor. No age statement, but I’d guess it isn’t very old. The few Old Forester Single Barrels I’ve seen where the store posted the age all tended to be 4 to 5 yrs old. They also tended to be on floors 4 or higher. First floor barrels tend to be more tame, less aggressive than their higher floor counterparts (producers use the first floor for barrels they’ll put a lot of age on since they have a chance of surviving that without becoming oak bombs). You get more stable temperatures, so less ‘action’ if you will (the spirit moving in/out of the barrel). If you’re looking for the Old Forester profile with a little less edge (or are a whiskey geek looking to better understand a first floor barrel vs higher floors), this may be right up your alley.
I have an actual bottle of this particular pick and found it a bit more flavorful than you indicate in your review. …Or, maybe I mis-read your opinion of it…?
Anyway, I think it’s a pretty good pick, and will grab a back-up for the shelf. I agree with your description about that lovely nose, though!
Doubt you mis-read it, but also have no doubt that different folks will have difference experiences with any given whisk(e)y. No right or wrong answers when it comes to that. Glad you enjoy it though!
I’m a big fan of Old Forester with hopes that word doesn’t get around about how good this bourbon is for the price. I’d dissapoint if the price increased due to popularity. 😉
So I’ve got some good news and bad news . . . thanks to the internet and social media, words gets around. Sometimes takes longer than others, but it gets around 🙂