Old Forester The 117 Series: Scotch Cask Finish

Old Forester possesses a critical flaw: an intensely off-putting bite and mineral notes in their Cask Strength versions. This isn't Cask Strength, so we should be okay, right? Unless this is as young as the $20-$30 options! Nose - Yes, it smells like young Old Forester. BUT, it's also rich and full of amazing aromas. 93 proof? How is that possible? This smells like unrefined 110 proof whiskey with intense sweetness and a great finish! Want specific notes? Bananas, red fruits, brown sugar, runt-flavored marshmallows, and Old Forest 100 poured over that. Taste - It stings and bites with unrefined grain alcohol notes. But then it's coated in sugar and rich sugars, red fruits, chocolate, brown sugar, dark banana bread, there's a malt note... it's rich, flavorful, and coats the mouth. Is it an exceptional experience ruined by harsh alcohol, or an exceptional experience with unrefined notes that you'll get past after a few sips? It's a bit of both, which is a problem. For me, this is a bourbon that's worth trying because it's truly unique, but it's also a classic example of how harsh young Old Forester can be. However, it has so much flavor. It drinks like Cask Strength bourbon but doesn't handle water like it; the harshness isn't masked. But damn, it has a nice flavor. Okay, let's discuss the score. Quality - This is well below average. It tastes like cheap bourbon. Presentation in the glass - This isn't about the bottle or color, but how you experience it. It's exceptionally rich, flavorful, and the nose is bold... it's a huge whiskey despite the proof. Flavors - Really nice, if you can get past the harsh alcohol notes. So... it's both significantly better than an average pour and significantly worse. It combines the experience of a mixer with the flavor and depth of a $200 bottle. I'm giving it a 2.0, which represents my average pour. I apologize, as I know many won't have an issue with these alcohol notes, but I can't overlook them. They prevent me from fully appreciating the more youthful notes that are also present in this one. On sale for $60 for a 375ml bottle. Despite this negative review, I would oddly recommend trying it at a bar for a fair price, and I would highly recommend it. This is what this series should be about: experimenting. This was a flawed experiment, but it shows huge potential.

8.4/10 Sweet Old Forester, with earthy, barley notes