Old Forester 150th Anniversary Bourbon (Batch 01)

Nose- Cherry cobbler; milk chocolate; rye bread; rich caramel; barrel char; apricots Palate- Wave of cherry syrup initially; rich caramel; graham crackers; maple syrup; touch of oak tannins; fig jam Finish- Long, thick finish; sweet cherry cordial; milk chocolate; cinnamon Very enjoyable. I could very easily see folks saying this one is too sweet, and it’s teetering on the line for me. From nose to finish you get a sweet cherry cordial note. It’s full of dark, thick notes throughout. Great for MSRP, but secondary doesn’t warrant the price.

The color is dark amber with a touch of gold that almost glows. It leaves a ring of oil around the glass, but takes a bit to coax out some legs. The nose greats you with charred oak mixed with a touch of cherry, opening up to molasses, vanilla, strong baking spices and a touch of floral rye. The palate is very dry but makes it’s way to all corners of the mouth filling it with the strong baking spices, cherry and oak. As the mouth tingles, the sweeter and creamier notes from the nose appear but can’t do much to counteract the spiciness. The spices do seem more tamed with further sips, giving you a strong taste of cinnamon and cherry in an almost bitter mixture, but not exactly off putting. The finish is medium with oak and cherry resonating in the mouth in a way that leaves you craving for a sweeter note to balance it. The spiciness keeps the mouth tingling for a while in an overall experience that leaves you desiring a bit more.