I really like Old Forester and this Old Forester Single Barrel picked by K&L is absolutely no exception. Bottled in their new-style bottle, aged for 4 1/2 years and picked by the Davids it was all but destined to be a good whiskey. Good distillery, good palates doing the pick… wonder if they have anything to say about this bottle?
In K&L’s Words: Old Forester Single Barrel
“We’ve started to see more and more interest in the Old Forester brand as it represents some of the finest values in the industry. When we finally got into the distillery in Spring of 2017, we found a very classic operation using a proper souring room, like you’d find at Four Roses or Wild Turkey, and two of the only thumpers left in Kentucky. The result is one of the smoothest, easiest to appreciate bourbon on the market.
This great little cask of Old Forester was dumped on July 28th, 2017 and distilled on November 1st, 2012. Incredible how much depth and complexity they achieve after only 4.5 years, the result of several cold winters in patent warehouses no doubt. The nose is toasted brown sugar, fresh mocha and herbal mint. On the palate, a sweet entry that remains super soft and fruity in the middle until a building spice on the finish. A long lingering black cherry note persists for a while after that. This whisky is so overt and approachable, almost any drinker will be able to appreciate the wonderful nuance and great drinkability here.”
Of course they had something to say about it, what was I thinking
Old Forester Single Barrel Info
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Old Forester
Bottled For: K&L
Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Oak
Age: 4.5 Years
ABV: 45%
Barrel: 2023
Floor: 5
Warehouse: H
Price: $40
Old Forester Single Barrel Review
EYE
Dark amber
NOSE
Heavily oaked with layers of brown sugar, brulee, dark fruit, biscuits, vanilla and a light bit of acetone, grain and nutmeg.
PALATE
Oak, burnt caramel, dark fruit, vanilla taffy, brulee, brown sugar, peanuts, biscuits and a light bit of acetone and baking spice.
FINISH
Oak, dark sweets, vanilla taffy, dark fruit, peanuts and bits of baking spice, toasted biscuit and acetone.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Well balanced, medium body and a warm sticky feel that turns drying.
OVERALL
This particular Old Forester Single Barrel is darker and oakier than you might assume at its 4 and a half years. It’s a commonly held belief that the bare minimum for bourbon to be “gettin’ good” is four years and that’s no arbitrary number. It comes from decades of distillers tasting, waiting and experimenting with their whiskey.
While 4 years in Scotland may result in something that’s spirit heavy and, depending on the distillery, undrinkable – in Kentucky it produces a full matured and delicious bourbon exactly like this Old Forester Single Barrel. Can 3-year-old whiskey taste good? Sure, but there’s a reason when Pappy had to restart Stitzel-Weller after prohibition he didn’t slap the Old Fitz name on a bourbon until he had 4-year-old stock. Cheers to a solid $40 bourbon!
SCORE: 87/100 (B+)