Review #214 - Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon
Old Forester's entry level bourbon, bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof). There's no age statement or other information given, but because of the price and the brand's marketing, we know this is a product targeted toward mixed drinks. How will it hold up neat?
Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon
USA - Bourbon
Price Paid: USD 22 (2023)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 22 (2024)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 43% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months; bottles at 100%, 90%, and 80% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Quite sweet - caramel, brown sugar, cherries, and some soft vanilla. Hints of acetone nods toward some youth, but there is a bit of oak, which grows stronger later. Icing sugar and cardamom add to the sweet side, while white pepper adds spice.
Palate: Medium mouthfeel, with peppery youth, grain, and soft oak influence that isn't too dry. Sugary flavors of brown sugar, hard candies, and vanilla add a sweet dimension, while pepper and spicy, nutty oak balance it; overall, somewhat simple and easy sipping.
Finish: Medium-short finish, spicy and sweet. Brown sugar, caramel, and butterscotch are balanced by black pepper, a hint of menthol rye flavor, and mild oak.
Final Note: Quite mild overall, but easy to sip on, and nothing offensive about it. It definitely comes across a bit simple and young, which might be expected with an entry level bourbon in this price bracket; this is alright, but we would probably lean toward using it in cocktails. That said, value here is great - the price around $22 in our area is hard to beat for a nice, sweet bourbon.
Our Average Rating: 5.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 7.85
Check out our other Old Forester reviews:
Review #211 - Old Forester "1915"
Review #191 - Old Forester 100 Proof Rye
