Old Forester Barrel Proof was announced in 2019 when the parent company Brown-Forman said they would be enhancing their retailer single barrel program. Old Forester’ discontinued their 90 proof single barrel and replaced it with barrel strength single barrel versions. It was announced back then that the barrel strength versions will range in proof between 130-135.
According to a press release back in 2019, “Since our founding 150 years ago, we’ve always listened to our customers and looked for ways to innovate to meet their tastes. Proof and filtration are both really important factors in the final flavor and complexity of a whisky, and we wanted to be able to share how special some of these barrels are when the product inside is tasted in raw form.”
Currently there are no plans to move Old Forester’s Single Barrel program away from private “By the Barrel” purchases. What this means is you need to find a liquor store that buys by the barrel or a bar that has the volume to do the same thing. Today’s review is a barrel pick from Liquor Junction in Massachusetts which is one of my favorite spots.
Bourbon Review: Old Forester Barrel Pick for Liquor Junction
ABV: 63.75% (127.5 Proof)
Age: NAS (Believed to be 4-6 Years
Mash Bill: Not Disclosed (Believed to be 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Barley)
Distillery: Old Forester Distillery
Warehouse: H
Floor: 7
Location: Louisville, KY
The Nose: When I first poured the bourbon ethanol notes filled the air. I decided to let it sit as I finalized everything written above. After about 10 mins I took the glass and was happy to see the ethanol was non-existent. I was treated to notes of toffee, butterscotch and a hint of vanilla. Subsequent pulls from the glass see additional butterscotch and cinnamon.
The Taste: The initial sip has an abundance of cherry notes on the front end before being joined by a subtle caramel note and oak. Subsequent sips from my heavy pour sees the addition of tobacco, leather and a touch of plum.
The Finish: There is quite a bit of heat but I’ll get to that in the conclusion. There is also quite a bit of flavor present as well. Initial sips see some caramel and raisin sweetness, but the longer I sip this and I did pour a second shorter pour there is more tobacco and baking spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon and black pepper.
Conclusion: I walked into Liquor Junction back in December looking for something lower in proof. I wasn’t feeling myself and a 7-10 later I would test positive for COVID for the first time ever in January. But anyway, I digress. One of the managers (maybe owners) stopped me when I walked in and asked if I ever tried some of their own barrel proofs. As a huge fan of Old Forester I couldn’t help a pour of the Old Forester Barrel Proof and the heat caught me off guard, but hey, I wasn’t myself. I told him this had to come from a high floor and he nodded. I said it had to be about 130 proof and he nodded. Turns out I was pretty much spot on. But I passed and I don’t remember what I bought. I did however keep in the back of my mind and on a recent trip I decided to grab a bottle.
Old Forester heat cycles their warehouses with the exception of Warehouse G. What is heat cycling you may ask? It is the process where the temperature of a warehouse is artificially manipulated, simulating seasonal temperature changes. This helps speed up the aging process in theory. There is also a study that shows the higher in warehouse (rickhouse) the higher the proof will be. In the case of Old Forester their warehouses are 8 floors.
As far the bourbon goes, the finish is hot which is right in my wheelhouse. Yes, there are high proof bourbons that drink lower then the ABV suggests, but those for the most part don’t leave me fulfilled. The key is to have a well rounded flavor profile and this does. From the aroma, to the first sip, to the finish, to the last sip Old Forester Barrel Proof Delivers. It’s why Old Forester is one my two go two brands.
Score: 92
Score: $89.99 (750ml)
Liquor Junction doesn’t advertise, but we need a liquor advertiser! If your interested in purchasing this bottle you can find it on their website at: https://www.liquorjunction.com/reading/product/s-10508/p-6663566/buy-lj-old-forester-single-barrel-strength-750ml-2p and be sure to tell them you read the review here!
