Tastes

This is my second bottle and they are defiantly a bit different and not just proof. On the noise I get cherry, oak, green apple, and hint of ethanol. The palate opens with a sweet cherry cough syrup, and oak not much else. The mid palate is a little spicy for a wheater, also some proof shows through. The finish is syrupy and thick, with heavy cherry and oak notes. At the time of this tasting I had a slight head cold so I might not be getting all the tasting notes. Current bottle is a 21-8 proof 112.5 ABV 56.25%, packs a pretty good punch. I would encourage anyone that is into Bourbon to try this one, not like other makers products, and very affordable for a cask strength weather, enjoy.

I don’t know why I passed this up for so long, great pour for the price. On the nose I get vanilla, Carmel, oak spice, but most present is Cinnabon rolls, with lots of cinnamon. On the front of the palate white sugary sweetness, followed but a soft oak spice, cinnamon, and clove. Followed by a floral note that accents the oak, and a little doughy yeast on the finish, overall medium with lingering oak. Very pleasant and sweet on the palate easy drinking for 52% and very enjoyable. I think this has a little more to offer for me then the single barrel offering. Don’t let this one sit on the shelves very enjoyable and a nice easy sipper, for sweet bourbon lovers.

I had a bottle of this over a year ago and didn’t care for it this was when I first got into bourbon. One the noise I get Carmel, brown sugar, cinnamon, some oak, and a touch of vanilla. On the front of the palate I get a sugary sweetness followed, lots of spice clove and cinnamon, followed by a good amount of barrel char. The oak and spice carry to the back of the palate, and there is a spicy finish that is very present, the finish is medium with a lot of spice and a little burn, overall I do like this offering more then a previous bottle I tried. Specifications are Single Barrel picked from Fine Wine & Good Spirits barrel# 7849746, ABV 57.5% 115 proof, barreled 11/20/2017.

I was really excited when I first picked this up and couldn’t wait to try it. I got it home and really did not like it, I am trying again after siting for 3 months. On the noise I get oak and lots of rye spice, a hint of mint, and some grainy notes. On the palate there is short bust of sweetness, followed by rye spices that are very light, then I get oak and some heat from the rye, also I get that grain/ floral/ earthy notes on the finish. Certainly less sharp then when I first tried it but overall I am not sure this will rate as high for me as some others. I have limited rye experience so I need to get used to the spice and other notes you get from this grain.

After coming off the 86 proof this certainly has a similar nose but also has a fuller nose. I get banana bread, but more in the back ground, brown sugar and a strong hit of cherry, also some vanilla frosting. The palate is sweeter upfront then the 86 and also a fair amount of spice. On the palate I get sweet vanilla frosting, followed by oak spice, and banana bread. The finish is richer then the 86 and I get more spice in the back end which makes for a medium long finish and coats the mouth more. I would say this is a top 5 for bourbon flavors, and profile, how can you go wrong and for $5 bucks more the 14 proof points make a difference.

Not sure why I never reviewed this when I had bought my first bottle just getting around to it now. On the nose I get the typical banana bread note that I get with most Old Forster products. I also get oak and spicy brown sugar, with a hint Carmel apples. The palate is mostly banana nut bread with oak and some rye spice, there is also a pudding like quality but it thins out quick. The finish is short with a little oak spice and some over ripe banana peal, not a bad pour but I don’t like it as much as some of the other offerings.

Been passing this one up for awhile so finally grabbed a bottle. The noise has green apples, honey, a little cherry cough syrup, and honey suckle. The palate is thin with some honey sweetness, and not much else, the mid palate is flat. On the finish the spices come out mostly rye spice, and a touch of oak. The finish is light and almost vanishes as quick as it starts, with an apple juice after taste on the tongue. So not a bad pour but also nothing to get excited about, just an easy sipper.

I always look forward to this release, last year was my first try and it was 1 of my favorite pours. I had some when I first got it, and it was a little sharp. I let it sit a about 15 mins to open up. On the nose I get apple, a hint of pear, oak spice, brown sugar, and caramel. The front of the palate has sugary sweetness, that leads into baking spices,and oak in the mid palate. The back of the palate has more sweet oak, chocolate, and salted peanuts. The finish is long and spicy with a viscous mouth feel, I get a note similar to a honey glazed ham with clove and cinnamon. You really get a long Kentucky Hug with this one and some drying of the palate on the back end. Very enjoyable, not sure if it ranks as high as last years C batch of course I have none left.

First try at one of the private selects and won’t be the last. On the noise I get dark chocolate, clove, apple, pear, oak, and a hint of cotton candy, very ingesting. The palate has similar notes of dark chocolate, and green apple, but also a lot of spice, oak and barrel char, less sweet then the nose. The finish is medium with hints of coco and dark chocolate, but the predominant flavor I get is bitter oak and barrel tannins. I am very curious to see what another stave combination at a different proof would taste like. This stave Combo was selected by FWGS of PA. 2- baked American Pure 1- seared French Cuvée 1- Makers Mark 46 2- Roasted French Mendiant 5- Toasted French Spice At 108.2 Proof