Old Forester 1924

Color: A pleasing deep copper-amber. Aroma: Excellent aroma! Maple, leather, and surprisingly, sweet tarts candies! It has a pleasant "musty" quality, notes of apple, and finally, caramel, though that descriptor is overused. Added 5/10/24: A strong whiff of banana on the nose, which I didn't notice on the initial tasting. Palate: (First tasting neat) A syrupy mouthfeel, which was somewhat unexpected, with pleasant cherry notes – not the medicinal kind found in other bottles (though I didn't dislike that). A nice balance of spice and sweetness. A mild warmth lingers pleasantly in the chest. Quite smooth overall. (Second tasting with a large ice sphere) I've heard that Old Forester/Brown Forman is known for a banana characteristic. I haven't detected it in other OF expressions I've tried (1897, 1910, 1920, 86 Proof), but I just noticed it on the first sip with ice. I'm also picking up other flavors I can't quite identify. Finish: Intriguing! A sensation akin to "campfire smoke" emerges at the back of the throat during the finish. Excellent! I appreciate smokiness in any form, at any stage of tasting. Final Thoughts: This Old Forester release has generated significant anticipation and has been difficult to find at its suggested retail price, with resellers marking it up considerably. I finally managed to acquire a bottle at SRP today. The SRP is higher than I typically spend. However, I knew I wouldn't find it cheaper elsewhere and had to pay the premium. I can't definitively say if it's worth the monetary cost. That's for you to decide. However, I can say it was worth the experience. Would I purchase it again? Perhaps... maybe not. Make no mistake, it's very good. But there are many excellent bourbons available for $30-$50 less.

The aroma is strong yet muted, revealing nougat, dark cherry, luscious date, fig, cocoa, intricate wood notes (oak, mahogany, teak), tiramisu, and macadamia. It's intricate and welcoming. The taste hits hard and is very characteristic, featuring cherry, wood polish, leather, fig newton, pipe tobacco, toffee, marshmallow, and butterscotch. The tastes possess richness and are nicely balanced. The medium-length conclusion offers French vanilla, caramel, subtle sweet oak, a touch of spice, zesty tangerine, cardamom, spearmint, and clove. It's noteworthy that the vanilla/caramel only appear at the end rather than upfront, unlike numerous other spirits. The texture is light and smooth. This is a fantastic spirit, and by far the top Old Forester product I've sampled. It simply possesses a higher degree of intricacy, richness, and smoothness. I spent a somewhat high $159.99, and while it won't be a repurchase at that cost, a situation that reflects my finances more than the liquid's quality.

The nose is a burst of floral rye, perfectly matched by charred oak that quickly gives way to vanilla and brown sugar. It is absolutely intoxicating and surprisingly offers no burn no matter how much you inhale. The palate is light and oily and immediately fills the mouth with an intense burst of black pepper. It is immediately chewy and oaky vanilla fills the corners of the mouth. This is rich, full, and intense, and while not exactly complex, it is those factors that make this stunning. Everything is perfectly balanced and addicting. The finish is medium long and rich, with chewy pepperiness and oak lingering. As soon as you take a sip, you're already looking forward to the next. This is remarkable, but held back a bit by the finish that ends too soon.

This is a really solid pour. A big admirer of the 1920. The different mash bill means there are clear distinctions between the 1920 and this one. This expression is exceptionally good at 100 proof. The mouthfeel is excellent. It has complexity and is well-balanced. It's a more polished pour than the 1920 and can be recognized as the younger sibling to King of Kentucky. Of the four expressions I've tried with this mash bill, it's my top choice, second only to King of Kentucky. The older Early Times is quite good too. Cooper Craft is decent, but I rank it last among the four expressions. The key takeaway is that I enjoy this mash bill and really like this pour.

TASTED NEAT AROMA - A rich aroma of candied cherry, toasted oak, and caramel. TAS TE - Rich, sweet, and decadent oak infused with cherry syrup, with hints of brown sugar. FINISH - The finish is extended. It begins with considerable oak, carrying some tannins. Then, a powerful surge of vanilla attempts to dominate but is ultimately overshadowed by the persistent oak. The finish concludes with a sensation of sweet and tannic oak. SHOULD YOU BUY? - While I find the price points for this bottle to be high, the spirit itself is good. I believe it is the best in the Whiskey Row Series. WOULD YOU BUY AGAIN? - I had reservations, but I would likely seek to replace this bottle once it's nearly empty or gone.

Today was a fantastic day as I had the opportunity to sample a new whiskey: an Old Forester 1924, aged 10 years and bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof). The nose reveals notes of metal, coffee beans, red spices, and chocolate. On the palate, I detected red fruit jam, toffee, dry bread crumbs, a metallic/copper taste, and milk chocolate. The aftertaste is dominated by notes of cigars, hay, and chocolate. Overall, this was an exceptional dram, highly recommended, full of flavor and potent enough to be truly enjoyable. My rating is 92 out of 100.