The Volstead Act of 1920 permitted 6 distillers (inc @oldforester) in Kentucky to continue bottling bourbon for medicinal purposes. It’s the only bourbon continuously sold by the same company that’s been available for sale before, during & after Prohibition.
Notably, during Prohibition, all whiskey needed to be bottled at 100 proof. Old Forester has bottled this at 115 proof to replicate the effects of the Angel’s Share during maturation.
Appearance: Tizer orange. A lovely oily coating on the glass, thick swirl mark and thick legs
Nose: The abv is evident on the nose straight away (nice). Whole nut bar, salted peanuts, caramel and old oak furniture. Getting that sweet biscuit (Jammy Dodgers or digestives) aroma again. It’s lovely!
Palate: Ooh, that’s a nice buttery and spicy delivery, lovely smooth mouthfeel. Strawberry jam, malt biscuits and a light dusting of black pepper. The ABV definitely adds a bit more spice and heat to this one. It’s a BBQ bourbon for me, needs a huge steak and chilli sauce to go with it!
It’s full of heat, spice and dark sweet notes. Molasses and dark syrup, pancake batter, chocolate orange, cherry….the list goes on and on for this one!
Finish: Long. Sweeter and more chcolatty than the other 3 Whiskey Row releases. There’s also a berry-sweet element which is very nice too. It’s a lovely end to a great dram!
Overall: Very nice but, controversially, I have it on a par with the 1897. Great mouthfeel and balance of lovely flavours and aromas.
