Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon 90 Proof

Paradise Liquor Single Barrel, 90 proof. From Warehouse O, floor 1. The deep amber color makes me curious about its age, though I wish Old Forester released age statements more often outside of their Birthday Bourbons. Nose: Abundant sweet caramel and brown sugar, strongly reminiscent of Woodford Double Oak, which makes sense given they are both Brown-Forman products. Similar banana notes also appear on the fruitier, sweeter side of the nose, much like Jack Daniels, another Brown Forman spirit. Palate: Continues with sweetness, offering a big burst of juicy fruit and brown sugar. Despite being 90 proof, it has a surprisingly rich mouthfeel. Finish: Delivers a significant wave of that same Woodford DO woody/caramel sweetness, with a whisper of cream cheese frosting and a slight warmth - unsure if it's ethanol or the 18% rye in the mash bill making itself known. The woody flavors subside with a hint of cinnamon spice that complements the fading sweetness beautifully. I don't recall spending $45 on this, but online sources suggest that's what I likely paid. That price point prevents this from being a truly outstanding purchase. For $45, there are superior options available, even from Brown-Forman, such as Jack Single Barrel 94 proof and Woodford Double Oaked, as well as Old Forester 1897 (Bottled-in-Bond). And that's not even considering other brands in the same price range. Would I purchase this again (especially now that it's bottled at 100 proof)? Maybe. Single barrel selections are interesting, but this isn't as widely distributed as Jack SiB 94 proof. Given the similarities in profile, I wouldn't actively seek out an OF 100 proof SiB unless it was from a local source renowned for exceptional picks. However, I'm still content with this bottle and happy to own it. It's a middle-of-the-road, very sweet, good bourbon.

You know, that's the issue with store picks. Sometimes a store selects a fantastic barrel, and other times they pick awful ones. Occasionally, a store you respect chooses a truly excellent barrel from Buffalo Trace (perhaps the best new whiskey tasted in 2020), and then immediately after selects an Old Forrester barrel that is the worst OF product you have ever had. This particular bottle is from floor 1, warehouse L. The aroma suggests it's older than this whiskey could possibly be. There's a musty, leathery scent reminiscent of flavors found in Rhetoric. It also has notes of lemon, caramel, maple syrup, and vanilla. It's a standard, inoffensive bourbon profile. The texture arrives with that leather note, accompanied by a bitterness that I find extremely off-putting. It's just raw bitterness for the sake of being bitter. I can't link it to any specific taste. While there's also vanilla and butterscotch present, the overwhelming bitterness defines the main character. The finish reveals chocolate, mild pepper, and maple syrup. I don't dislike the finish itself, though I strongly dislike the experience required to reach it. I typically enjoy Old Forrester products. I usually appreciate store picks. This choice is so unusual within what I understand of the OF portfolio that I'm almost convinced there's a genetic factor involved. Perhaps other palates aren't as drastically affected by that bitterness in the texture. There are elements, both in the aroma and on the finish, that I genuinely like in my bourbons. If I could just bypass the texture of this one, I believe I would quite enjoy it. But as it stands, I would absolutely never purchase another bottle from this pick. Never. I've never had to say that about an OF product or a store pick, especially from this particular store.

My single barrel Old Forester is a barrel selection from John's City Diner in Birmingham, Al. The proprietor mentioned it had a pleasant grilled pineapple taste, and I must agree that's a quite accurate description. The aroma presents a light, sweet fruitiness that carries through to the palate. I've observed that many Old Forester varieties exhibit sweet fruit or fruitcake undertones. As noted, there are subtle hints of pineapple and perhaps cloves. I detect just a touch of the oak barrel along with a pleasing spiciness. There's a nice wave of sweetness at the end, with a bittersweet aftertaste that leans toward the sweeter side. This is a nice, distinctive bottle. I'm happy I acquired it.

Bottled in 2020 from Warehouse J's 4th Floor, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from Old Forester Distillery in Kentucky was chosen with help from master taster Jackie Zykan and bottled at 90 proof. Its nose presents rich aromas of sweet tea, espresso, subtle apple, dark chocolate, butterscotch, and anise. The palate offers elegant notes of toffee, vanilla, citrus, apple-spice-tart, and toasted oak spices, finishing long and fruity. Bottled July/September/October 2020, tasted July 2022.

Nose: Notes of oak, butterscotch, caramel, and clove are present, along with hints of vanilla, pepper, leather, and lemon. Palate: The leather, oak, and pepper flavors are prominent. It's predominantly bitter, overshadowing sweeter elements like vanilla, caramel, and maple syrup. Finish: The finish is medium in length, characterized by bitterness and spice. Leather dominates the taste buds and throat, leaving a tingly sensation. A significant rye presence is also detected. In summary, this bourbon is intense and hot, with a strong leather character that pushes sweeter notes into the background due to its bitterness.

A recently released store selection. When first opened, there's a powerful smell of grapes and caramel with a faint hint of maple. After a second pour, there's a clear initial taste of grape and fruit, along with some caramel, but hardly any maple. The mid-palate continues with orange and grape flavors alongside hints of caramel. The finish is quite smooth, with slightly sweet oak and just a touch of ethanol. It could also serve well as a mixer to create a different flavor profile.