It’s that time of the week again fam. I’ve been holding onto this photo and review for a few weeks, having trouble finding the time to fit a proper tasting and photo processing schedule into my daily time allowance, but I’m finally getting to it on this, one of the most “productive” days I’ve had in months. Work in the early AM, Team lunch at noon, then a badass trail run after work to knock my 10k out for the week, gaining some 1,313’ elevation and even opting to fit some monkey business in before cooking up some delightful beer brats and sauerkraut. It’s been a hell of a day, and it’s time to unwind with a new friend, Old Forester.
Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Louisville, KY, USA
$22.99
50% / 100 Proof
Nose - I’m picking up some cherries on the front with some surprisingly smokey hints of charred oak and almonds, quite a bit earthier than what I was anticipating but quite sweet regardless.
Palette - Contrary to the cherried notes of the nose, I get a fat stack of honey as soon as the bourbon hits my tastebuds, then igniting into a firey cinnamon blaze that whips around a bit then melts into rich, sugary maple syrup, light in texture but ample in flavor.
Finish - Smooth on the way down and very easy to drink, it’s not overwhelming and certainly does bring a large amount of drinking quality to such a modest price tag. Notes of toasted oak and cherries stay with me on the finish for quite a long time.
Thoughts - Old Forester 100 has really changed my general outlook on what kind of quality to expect for a particular price mark. It’s not a perfect bourbon by any stretch, but it has a ton of kick and richness and really feels like an expectional whiskey for the very light price of $22 per 750ml bottle, where you are competing with the likes of Jack Daniels and friends. I wouldn’t classify it as a party drinker like old number 7, it’s more punctual and refined than something you’d want to shoot, but complex enough to offer itself for complicated or remarkable mixers without dropping double the price for a bottle of High West.
Overall - 6/10 - Complex and welcoming for the best price in town, a bourbon fiend’s daily drinker. Modest.