Where many tie-ins are often limited time offerings, Old Forester has kept Statesman on as a permanent line expression. based in the Republic of Ireland. It unfortunately features Old Forester’s typical funky aftertaste, but in this case it’s thankfully mild, fleeting, and largely inconsequential. The mash bill includes 79% corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley. When the product was introduced in 1873, bottles of Old Forester were sealed as a way to guard against adulteration and substitution of the contents, and were initially sold in pharmacies as a … J.T.S. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is part of Old Forester’s Whiskey Row series, focused on historic expressions from the brand’s history. Favorite Add to 1969 Old Forester Bourbon Decanter But in early 2015, the gears began turning within the belly of the beast and the Whiskey Row series was born. ABV: 50% Copper. After the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 to be labeled as Bottled in Bond, whisky must be the product of one distillation season, one distiller and from one distillery. Yes, it’s a real cork. It is bottled in bond bourbon so there is guaranteed aging of 4+ years. While there still isn’t much heat, Old Forester does have a little spicy cinnamon and nutmeg bite to it, as well as a middle of the road and not thin mouthfeel. Statesman doesn’t seem to see the same demand as Old Forester’s Whiskey Row bourbons, and is often available to stores that want to carry it. Old Forester is a brand of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey produced by the Brown-Forman Corporation. Brown-Forman might have had some lows with their Old Forester bourbons over the last decade, but the entire brand continues to see improvements, and their Birthday Bourbon and King of Kentucky remain some of the top bourbons released in a given year. Another special thing about the whiskey is the price tag that comes with it. At 86 proof, Old Forester delivers a genuine bourbon experience, with rich, full flavor and a smooth character that is ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water or in a classic cocktail.”. Over 225 years ago, James B. Beam made his bourbon in a wooden mash tub – and for over 100 years, the Old Tub name stood as a testament to the first bourbon he ever bottled. With those being single barrels along with plenty of other limited edition bourbons that often aim for this agreeable flavor profile, they aren’t always readily available. This bonded whiskey may not be something you instantly think of when someone mentions Jack Daniel’s, and it’s probably never going to become a top product for JD. We Offer an Exceptional Collection, Delivering straight to Your Door. It’s simply an easy-to-enjoy bourbon that beautifully showcases what Brown-Forman can produce. History. Statesman on the other hand is a non-limited edition ongoing release, and usually found without a ton of effort. Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky. In terms of proof and age, I would say they’re very close (certainly not over 5 years old). 5 out of 5 stars (1,127) $ 19.00. It’s still not great, but it’s also not so bad for a $20ish bourbon, although I still prefer Evan Williams Bottled in Bond at around the same price. Subscribe now and save, give a gift subscription or get help with an existing subscription. ... Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. In my early review days, I wanted to compare anything and everything that seemed similar. I haven’t had basic Old Forester for years, but turns out Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon is more interesting than I expected. For this expression, Old forester selects a barrel from 3 different warehouses, blends them with minimal filtering, and creates the 1870 Original Batch Whiskey. It definitely smells young and is generally light, but it’s not all that bad. It’s tough to argue with a $30 price tag for a liter of bottled-in-bond bourbon from the same folks who produce Old Forester. Evan Williams White Label. ... Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond, Old Forester 1910, and Old Forester 1920). Find out what the term means and why it's on everything from whiskey to rum. This 100 proof expression was specially crafted to honor the U.S. 1897 Bottled in Bond is a small batch of barrels from one distilling season, in the same year, in a federally bonded warehouse, for a minimum of four years. According to Old Forester’s website, Statesman is a blend of hand-selected casks from the warmest places in their warehouse. It is officially the longest-running bourbon on the market today (approximately 149 years as of 2020), and was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed bottles. Overnight Shipping. In the mouth, a fruity sweetness is tempered with soft oak and spice, making it a damn fine dram. Old Overholt Bottled-in-Bond Rye (2020) – A hot, wood-forward note leads the way on the nose, and it arrives as quite rustic and frontier-like, burly with notes of matchsticks and leather dominating. Currently, a limited distribution plan may make this bourbon a bit tough to find (Kentucky, Ohio, … Â. Reviewer of the Best American Whiskies . I didn’t expect that Jack Daniel’s trait to carry over to Old Forester, but I’m starting to realize that it’s a Brown Forman thing. Skip to content. Old Forester 1920, at 57.5%, is the highest proof expression in the series. Old Forester's Signature 100 Proof is indeed bottled at 50% ABV, but notably is NOT bottled in bond. While this gives drinkers the options of choosing the proof they prefer, it also doesn’t provide a lot of flavor variation within the brand’s portfolio. It’s not something you would find me sipping since the bitter finish didn’t suit my palate well. It’s a decent option for daily drinking, but you’re not missing out if you pass on it. We reviewed the lineup from Kentucky’s Wilderness Trail Distillery last summer, and in that write-up we mentioned that the distillery’s founders had exercised considerable patience releasing their first bourbon as a four year, bottled-in-bond. This includes Old Forester Bourbon at 86 proof, Old Forester 1870 at 90 proof, Old Forester 1910 Fine Whisky at 92 proof, Old Forester Statesman at 95 proof, Old Forester Signature at 100 proof, Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond at 100 proof, and in 2020, an expanded single barrel program with a 100 proof option. Brown Bottled-in-Bond. Appearance: There’s not much more to say than that, so let’s find out how this bourbon performs in this Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon review. However, it’s ramping up from the more recent 80 proof to 86 proof. 24/7 Customer Service. Rittenhouse Rye. The Whiskey Row series includes the 1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond, and 1910 Old Fine Whisky. It’s not that there isn’t shortage of sweet bourbon on the market, it’s just that this one does it so well. Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond is bottled at 100 proof and has a retail price of around $60. It’s not a complex or interesting bourbon, but it’s also decently enjoyable. I lament that Virgin 7 Year Bourbon was discontinued in mid-2019 because that was the one sub-$20 bourbon to rule them all. Tasting Notes: Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. By Gary / May 27, 2019 January 4, 2020 / Bourbon, Review / Stands Out. Old Forester 1897 meets all of those requirements, and the label even references the impact that the legislation has had on whiskey production, despite being passed over a century ago. The finish initially is light with honey, toasted grains, licorice, and citrus; and after a minute I start to get hints of banana. With Statesman being one of the most expensive, does it justify its price? Bourbon Reviews; Rye Reviews; American Whiskey Reviews; Rest of World Whisk(e)y Reviews; Top Tipple Reviews; Blog; About; Tag: Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond. Bottled in bond bourbon has been around for more than a century, yet the style has undergone a full-on renaissance in recent years. Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon starts off with roasted caramel, apple, vanilla, and citrus with toasted oak and cinnamon that follow close behind. The Whiskey Row series includes the 1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond, and 1910 Old Fine Whisky. Old Forester … Old Forester Statesman forgoes some complexity in exchange for pure drinkability, yet easily justifies its price as a readily available and under-the-radar bourbon. For years, Old Forester products had been overlooked on shelves all across America. Statesman’s $55 price falls in line with a number of sweet and fruit-forward bourbons. With “chewing”, the finish becomes a little more oaky, dry, and sweet all at the same time with honey, toasted grains, vanilla, sliced apple, and citrus. This 100 proof expression is the second release in our Old Forester Whiskey Row Series and was specially crafted to honor the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond, the second in our Old Forester Whiskey Row Series, is crafted to honor a watershed moment in bourbon history – the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. There are plenty of bourbons that strive to achieve this goal, but few that really nail it. Bottled-in-bond is one of the oldest designations in American spirits. One of the comparisons I did was a side-by-side review of two Bottled-in-Bond bottlings: Old Forester’s 1897 BiB versus Old Grand Dad BiB. Being a blend from hand-selected casks this must be the flavor profile they are striving for. There’s no way we could just omit the bottled-in-bond whiskey offering from Jack Daniel’s from our review. It is a no age statement bourbon, but at the time of its initial release, it was said that it contained bourbon under 5 years old. Like the aforementioned select single barrels from Knob Creek ($45), Wild Turkey ($55), Four Roses ($75+), and other examples like Henry McKenna Single Barrel ($45+), Blanton’s Single Barrel ($55+), I.W. Plan your visit today. What the Distillery Says. You must be 21 or over to enter this website. Ultimately a little over 14,000 bottles were aged for 12 years and bottled … The master distiller of Brown-Forman, Chris Morris, hand-picked the barrels with Old Forester brand representative Jackie Zykan. It’s pretty clear to me that the bourbon is relatively young, but I’m finding a somewhat fragrant and flavorful, yet light, mix of sugars, fruits, oak, wood spice, and that Brown Forman banana note usually found in Jack Daniel’s. Posts about Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond written by Bourbon Paddy. ... Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 9-Year-Old. This bourbon from Old Forester is the second in its Whiskey Row series. Brown label dates back to 1855, and was first bottled by John Thompson Street Brown, who went on to found Old Forester in 1870 with his half brother George Garvin Brown. “Most bartenders personally like to drink Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond, but one we really have fun with at Barn8 is Mellow Corn, which you can find at the liquor store for $12. Named for the year the Bottled-in-Bond Act was passed, Old Forester 1897 was released last year as part of the brand’s delicious Whiskey Row series. What you might not know, however, is that they’re still around — and still highly renowned. Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered Straight Bourbon (Batch 29), Kings County Distillery Bottled in Bond Bourbon, Heaven’s Door Tennessee Bourbon 10 Year, Blue Run 13 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Ultimate Valentine’s Day Whiskey Drink Guide. This is attractive. Top Customer Reviews Highest Price Lowest Price Most Recent ... Carnival Glass Decanter Iridescent Marigold Diamond Pattern Square Bottle Old Forester Bond Whiskey Decanter Bottle Only ellesh71. In my own personal sweet and fruity bourbon pantheon, it falls right in with I.W. There are a number of Evan Williams bottling, but it seem the most popular are the 100-proof Bottled in Bond (AKA White label), 86-proof Black Label, 86.6-proof Evan Williams 1783, and an 86.6-proof Evan Williams Single Barrel. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series Fall 2018 6. After the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 to be labeled as Bottled in Bond, whisky must be the product of one distillation season, one distiller and from one distillery. Another Heaven Hill heritage brand, the J.T.S. Find out what the term means and why it's on everything from whiskey to rum. It has a surprising intensity for its proof, yet manages to be well-rounded with its fragrances. The palate settles into a more evocative groove that evokes notes of caramel corn, coconut, and brown butter — the main connection to the 86 proof version. Starting in 2020, bottles of Old Overholt Rye will be a little different. After a minute or so I get some roasted banana, dried citrus, licorice, and mint. On that note, this is way better than Jack Daniel’s Old No. Heaven Hill Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond . First produced by legendary distillery Stitzel-Weller in the 1940’s, the Old Fitzgerald name is now owned by Heaven Hill. As it turned out, we can’t keep it off our top-picks list either. Composition: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley, Color: 1.1/2.0 on the color scale (burnished), “Created in 1870, Old Forester is the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during and after Prohibition. The second expression, released in Fall 2015, was the 100 proof Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond, a nod to the passage of the BiB Act of 1897. A bartender go-to, Rittenhouse Rye is a cocktail champion thanks to the BIB requirement of 100 proof. It’s not reverting to the big and bold 100-proof, bottled-in-bond whiskey that was an icon for much of the 20th century. “Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it wins a lot of my own blind competitions at home.” Henry McKenna Single Barrel is loved by more than just Minnick and his drinking buddies—it’s also a favorite of competition judges. 31. It has a nice amber color, with faint wood and … Old Forester’s “sealed-in-quality” concept preempted the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 and Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made according to the distillery’s exacting standards which date back to the 19th century. Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond is the second expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series. So what makes Statesman stand out from the rest of them?Statesman is by far the sweetest and fruitiest of the aforementioned bourbons, and also has the least amount of oakiness. In many places, … (Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass) Color. Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond is crafted to honor a watershed moment in bourbon history – the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. It’s still not great, but it’s also not so bad for a $20ish bourbon, although I still prefer Evan Williams Bottled in Bond at around the same price. It … The 2016 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is bottled from 93 barrels distilled on July 4th, 2004. Toasty aromas suggest croissant and dulce de leche. Same Day Response. Review #119: George Dickel Bottled in Bond Fall 2005 George Dickel recently released a 13 year old bottled in bond expression at a very reasonable price and it hit Texas this week! 50% ABV $50-$60 Website. Like the rest of the Old Forester bourbon lineup, it is Kentucky Straight Bourbon from Brown-Forman, made from a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley (for enzymes) and aged for an undisclosed amount of time in new charred American oak barrels. Review #1009 | Bourbon Review #523 – Old Forester 1897: Bottled In Bond. This puts it in competition with some other brands, most notably with select Four Roses, Wild Turkey, and Knob Creek single barrels that can find themselves in this particular fruity and/or sweet style. That’s a lot of bourbons within a small range of proof that all share the same mashbill. Cherry, confectioners’ sugar, cocoa, light banana, and caramel combine to create a robust and delectable experience. The smoked grain and oak kind of remind me of young MGP bourbon, although MGP has more rye in the mash that brings out more licorice, anise, and dill. If you're not old enough to drink, then you're not old enough to read Breaking Bourbon. Because the latter is an entirely different beast—a legitimate bottled in bond bourbon, which meets all the requirements that label entails.