Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel Strength

NEAT NOSE - Rich, bold, and sweet aromas of maple syrup and dark brown sugar with undertones of caramel. This is one of the finest bourbon noses I've experienced. PALATE - A thick mouthfeel. The aromas from the nose are present but subdued by a prominent cherry cola flavor. This cherry cola note is reminiscent of drinking it warm from the can, unlike the 1920 which I found to be a "flat cherry cola." FINISH - A long finish with oak and cherry cola. I desired more sweetness to come through, but it was not unexpected given the palate experience. 💧 💧 - Adding just two drops of water enhances the sweetness on the finish and slightly mutes the richness of the nose, though it remains very present. BUY? - This is an interesting choice, as many reviews mention these barrels can be overly hot. I previously sampled one in a store that was not hot at all. While it might be a gamble, I recommend trying to sample the barrel first if you're hesitant. I took a chance on two bottles and am very pleased with one so far. BUY AGAIN? - It's a gamble without sampling beforehand, but I would purchase it again. **Do not underestimate the impact of a drop or two of water on a whiskey's profile.

Albertsons-Vons-Pavilions Barrel Pick: Warehouse K Floor 5 128.7 Proof Color: Medium Copper-Amber Aroma: Leather, brown sugar. Taste: (Consumed with a large ice ball) From the very first taste, I could immediately identify this as Old Forester. I'm not sure how to describe it, but..... I'm detecting a significant amount of oak and tannins from this initial pour. Before the ice started to melt, I would say it certainly drinks like its high proof. The warming sensation in the chest is present, but it fades after a few sips. This is not very sweet, nor is it very spicy. I'm truly struggling to figure this one out from the start. I suspect this will require time to fully appreciate. It shows promise, but I was hoping it would impress me – that it would present more distinct and complex flavors right away. Let's see how the second pour turns out... The first taste of pour #2 presents the same intense spicy blast from the high proof as the first. Not much difference from the initial tasting. I'd say, "spicy" has returned on this second evaluation. Aside from that, I believe this bottle is what it is: Not bad, but not outstanding. No Old Forester offering has truly been able to rival the 1879 and 1920 for me. All Old Forester expressions have been "good" at the very least. But this one failed to push boundaries. A respectable 3.5 stars. Finish: Quite short with a lingering tongue tingle and some baking spice. Something resembling "apple" appears at the very end... which is pleasant.

Liquor City Uncorked pick, "Gallenstein Selection #17" Warehouse 1; Floor 5 65.8% alcohol by volume; 131.6 proof Opened 4 months Aroma - Spicy cinnamon and caramel, nutmeg, cardamom, bread that's been baked too long, sweet hay, moderate oak, and strong ethanol. Taste - Red hot cinnamon, caramel, toffee, rye bread, wet grass, harsh grain, and fresh leather. The finish is medium-long with dry, bitter oak, dry cinnamon, artificial sweetener, powdery baking spices, and harsh ethanol. I believe this will be my last Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Proof for a while, at least until I can taste a sample beforehand. I simply don't see much value here; the OF 1920 is more refined and objectively better. This is either my 4th or 5th bottle of OFSBPS, and I've never been impressed. My issue is that it sits directly between two superior barrel proof options that cost the same or less. As I've stated in my reviews before, I believe Jack Daniel's and Elijah Craig barrel proofs are both better purchases, depending on which end of the Old Forester spectrum you prefer. If you desire sweet maple, go with Jack Daniel's. If you're looking for an older, refined oak and vanilla profile, go with Elijah Craig. To me, these bottles are excessively hot, too young, and not sweet enough.

131.1 proof selection from Fox Cigar Bar in Gilbert AZ. Nose is completely in line with Brown Foreman/Old Forster, offering cherry cola, orange zest, chocolate, furniture polish, mild oak, vanilla, sarsaparilla, pine, clove, and a whisper of banana. Quite pleasant. Alcohol is apparent but less than anticipated and not bothersome (considering it's 131 proof). Palate begins with maraschino cherry, root beer, tobacco, raisin, toffee, orange peel, pepper, and flan. The tastes are strong, as anticipated. Finish presents a rather abrupt change with a significant spice surge including cinnamon, ginger, clove, and chili pepper (ghost pepper, intense heat with little taste), alongside well-aged oak. All sensations are perceived beneath the tongue. Texture is rich and thick. Yes, I really enjoy this. The sweet and spicy combination suited me, though I would have preferred a more gradual shift to the finish, with some palate elements continuing rather than a swift plunge into intense spice. Nevertheless, it's powerful and somewhat demanding, which I appreciate. At the $109 I spent, I would definitely purchase other versions of this offering if available at a comparable cost.

From The Wine Source pick, Warehouse I, Floor 4, at 66.0% abv (132.0 proof). Opened for 2 months. Nose: Cinnamon, maple, toffee, ginger, cardamom, brown sugar, medium oak, and strong ethanol. Palate: Red Hots, gingerbread, peanut shells, rich oak, cigar wrapper, vanilla cream, and clove. The finish is medium-long with harsh oak tannins, burnt sugars, stale gingerbread, dry cinnamon, and strong ethanol. This was the first pick I purchased after relocating to Baltimore. The liquor stores in this area are highly inconsistent, with most being truly subpar. The Wine Source was among the first places I visited and has an excellent selection of beer, wine, and spirits. They don't offer many picks at once, with only about 5 available when I visited. I chose this one because an employee mentioned it was his favorite current pick. It's quite good, but my previous reviews detail my thoughts on Old Forester picks. This is a solid bourbon, but I believe better options exist for less money.

Woodman's Rockford Barrel Pick 128.9 proof Nose: Very bright and distinct notes of powdered sugar and vanilla, with a rich oak presence appearing secondarily. Taste: Immediately sweet with bright cherry and powdered sugar, then shifts mid-palate as heavy oak tannins emerge, transitioning from sweet to bitter as it thickly coats the tongue. The rye and malted barley vie for attention, but the barley seems to be more prominent. Finish: A relatively simple, warm finish that doesn't linger long. It displays both the initial sweetness and the bitter oak that follows, but fades quickly.