Old Forester King Ranch Edition (2022 Release)

Nose: Smells of caramel, vanilla, with a faint whiff of smoke. This is like traditional Old Forester, but lacking the green banana notes and possessing greater depth. Taste: The flavor is bold and rich, dominated by caramel and vanilla, with an underlying woodiness. It's not the scent of aged, rich oak, but more akin to a dusty woodworking shop. The classic Old Forester 100 is present; this expression doesn't stray from its heritage, which is good, but introduces an additional woody dimension. Finish: Dare I call it smooth? It has flavor, but it's predominantly vanilla. The initial impact is significant but fades too quickly for me. Those who enjoy the smooth finish of Tennessee whiskeys like JD might appreciate this, as it seems to have smoothed out the rough edges. However, individuals who prefer a finish with more character might find it lacking. It ultimately comes down to personal preference. Overall: I enjoyed it, though it doesn't fundamentally change the Old Forester 100 profile. It delivers as intended, adding a layer, primarily of wood. The finish is also somewhat lacking. If you discover this bottle at retail price, it's a worthwhile addition to your collection and a good variation on traditional Old Forester. However, I wouldn't go out of my way for it, as it wasn't astonishing. Cheers!

Sampled this neat in a glencairn glass. The aroma is smoky, with caramel and a light sweetness. I find the nose very pleasing. On the palate, I detect more wood, akin to a campfire, with cherry flavors. The finish consistently carries the smoky wood essence throughout. The more I drink it, the more enjoyable the palate becomes and the smokier the finish gets. I suspect the smoke would be less intense with ice... I tried it with ice and much prefer it neat. Definitely worth recommending for $69.

Intricate scents. We discovered notes of chocolate, honey, and apple. I also detected a hint of floral and woodiness. On the palate, honey, subtle chocolate, and apple emerge, concluding with a touch of floral.

Nose: charred oak, caramel, vanilla, cinnamon and just a hint of mesquite. Sweet on the palate with a little more mesquite and spice, caramel, pecan pie and cinnamon. Long spicy finish. With a friend

Tasted neat at a restaurant with a friend. On the nose, I detect wood, not as much mesquite as I'd hoped for. Notes of oak, caramel. Smooth on the palate but honestly, I'm let down.

Heavy smoke nose, popcorn, caramel Palate: typical OF profile with some added char, not too sweet, slight bitterness.