Review #56 - Old Forester 1920
Today, a whisky that we've been enjoying for a few years now, one that shows there is still value to be found in higher proof bourbons. It's pretty much always available when we head to the store, and has gained quite a reputation for being a solid sipper.
The 1920 'Prohibition Style' refers to the bottling practices during Prohibition, when all whisky was to be bottled at a certain proof. The barrel entry proof was set at 100, and after maturation, the finished whisky generally came out around 115 proof, which is why the current bottling still carries this strength. That should give us plenty of flavor to look forward to.
Old Forester 1920
USA - Bourbon
Price Paid: USD 56 (2021)
Current Locally Available Price: USD 57 (2023)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 57.5% ABV
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 16 months; bottles at 90%, 70%, and 20% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: There is decent sweetness here, and it comes in many forms: darker medicinal cherry, caramel, vanilla, and Werther's Original candies all come to mind, and maybe even molasses. There is plenty of rich oak as well, and it comes with some spices, such as nutmeg, or even some mild nuttiness. We get some dusty corn grain in there, and later on, along with a little bit of heat, there is a dark fruit like plum or prune, along with some sweet red wine.
Palate: Oaky, lots of oak and spice, along with a decent bit of heat. The mouthfeel is thick and oily, with lots of candied sweetness, both caramel and cherry hard candies. There is cinnamon too, more like red hot candies, and after a while, a hint of tobacco smoke and anise spice. It ends with brown sugar and possibly a mild barbecue note.
Finish: Nice and warm, with sweet fruit like plum, raspberry, and blackberry. Oily with hard candies, licorice, oak spice, maple syrup, and a little bit of anise. The finish length is medium-long.
Final Note: We often get some cherry notes on Old Forester bourbons, and this one is no exception - it pops through in the nose, palate, and finish. We enjoy that note quite a bit, and paired with the nice oak and plentiful flavor from the bottling strength, this is just a solid all-round bourbon at a price 'closer' to entry level. A decent value indeed, we would recommend this to pretty much anyone looking from something with a punch and quality, along with some flavor development that generally surpasses the entry level stuff.
Our Average Rating: 6.5 / 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: 6.96
