Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond Review

The Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond is named after the Bottled in Bond act of the same year. Being named as such it also follows all of the regulations required for it to be labeled as a bonded bourbon. This makes me happy, because I love trying new BiB bourbons!

It’s all distilled in one season, aged at least 4 years in a bonded warehouse, bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof) and has had nothing but water added to bring it to proof. Strict requirements for sue, but every word is music to my ears.

I love BiB whiskeys. I’m happy that OF has released one and I’m excited to get into this review… so let’s get to it!

Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond – Details and Tasting Notes

Whiskey Details

Style: Bourbon (Straight)
Region: Kentucky, USA

Distiller: Old Forester
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Cask (x2)
Age: 4 Years
ABV: 50%

Price: $55

White background tasting shot with the Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond bottle and a glass of whiskey next to it.

“This expression follows the Bottled in Bond standards that whisky must be aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years, the product of one distillation season, one distiller and from one distillery and bottled at 100 Proof.” – Old Forester

Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond Review Tasting Notes

EYE
Copperish amber

NOSE
Banana’s Foster, vanilla custard, dried fruit, green mango and some notes of oak and spice with a nuttiness that threads through it all.

I’m not too impressed by the nose. It’s fairly sweet and flabby with little oak to speak of.

PALATE
Banana’s Foster, vanilla custard, dried fruit, unripe “green” fruit, corn cakes and some bits of oak and spice with a nuttiness that threads through it all.

So similar to the aroma with a few extra notes kicking up, this is barely average.

FINISH
Medium -> Corn sweetness and a touch of oak and spice fade out to a vanilla custard and green notes.

BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Not balanced, medium body and a light syrup feel.

Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond – Overall Thoughts and Score

This is a pale pale shadow sitting next to the 1975 Bonded. And like the OF SiB from a few days ago, my biggest issue here isn’t the mediocre aroma, palate and finish… it’s the lack of info.

What season is this BiB? When was it distilled, when was it bottled, what batch is it? I want to know so I can avoid picking it up again by accident and wasting my money. This is a point I’d still be mad about, maybe even more so, if I liked it because if it was a great batch I’d like to seek out more!

Old Forester, you’re seriously shooting yourself, and your customers, in the foot by not giving us easy, simple, info to navigate your seasonal/batched/SiB products. Using this release as an example, I picked this Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond up at the beginning of this year. So it’ll be at least a year before I ever think about trying it again just to make sure I don’t waste my money on this release again by accident.

SCORE: 2.5/5