Tastes

I was sort of taken aback by this bourbon — I have been an Old Forester fan for quite some time, and decided to grab a bottle of Statesman on a whim at the grocery store since I’ve never tried it before. I think I always assumed it was a bit of a gimmick release? But I was wrong. It is really nicely balanced, sweet and fruity with just enough spice and heat to keep me coming back for another sip. Great finish too — I got a little more heat on the back end than I got upfront, but again, this is really nicely balanced. The proof seems to be just right to let the flavors shine without overpowering. Maybe controversial, but this might be my favorite regular Old Forester bottling. (Yes, I am saying it is better than 1920 Prohibition Style.)

About as sweet as I remember, and a bit medicinal, but overall a solid pre-mixed cocktail — especially after a little dilution over ice. I would love to see what a barrel-finished version of this tastes like.

Maybe the king of all inexpensive 80-proof bourbons?

Really quite… disappointing? Thin, dry, and even a little hotter than I’d expect at only 90-proof, Russell’s Reserve Rye just doesn’t do much for me on its own. It has a nice nose, but the flavor and mouthfeel just aren’t there for me. Fortunately the finish is quite short so it doesn’t linger long. It is becoming apparent that, even as a fan of rye whiskey in general, I may just not be in the pocket for Wild Turkey’s rye expressions. WT 101 Rye is okay, WT Rare Breed Rye is marginally better than WT 101 Rye at twice the cost ($48), and Russell’s Reserve Rye is the worst of the three but somehow the most expensive ($50). I’ve heard very good things about Russell’s Reserve Rye Single Barrel, and still want to try it out, but expectations are low — which is interesting to say about a $80-90 bottle.