Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2019

Vanilla Bomb!!

Neat. Neck pour. Great first impression on the nose. Deep bread notes and oak reign supreme. Cherries and vanilla. Burnt caramel. A really nice cherry pie all around. Buttery qualities. Hint of banana as it opens up. Nice creamy feel. Deep brown sugar and cinnamon on the tongue. Transitions to banana punch, into the burnt caramel. Ends on the cherries and vanilla. This is so so good. Hype on this release is real. This is overwhelmingly delicious.

Taste: 2oz. neat in glen cairn. Nose (4.5): Love the nose on this one! Cherry and vanilla dominates. If there is any flaw it may be that there is a slight hint of acetone/nail polish remover. It is not off putting but it takes what would be a 5 on the nose and moves it down just a tad. Palate:(5) Fantastic palate. The sweet cherries turn just a bit tart and smokey, caramel and oak come in after a strong hit of vanilla. You would never guess proof above 100 as this gives off hardly any ethanol hug. It is warming into your face and feels like a warming blush with a smile. The higher proof points amplifies the superior flavors and richness. It does not detract. This is really well done. Finish: (4.25) The sweetness gives way to dry oak and sweet tea. I would have liked those cherries a little more on the finish and maybe a little less dryness, but you can't win them all. Overall: Tremendous dram. Exceeded my expectations. One of the best I have had this year. It is a refined, gentlemanly sip with exceptional nuance. Only rough edge maybe the OF signature nail polish thing on the nose and the quick dryness on the finish. That oaky dryness though may be a plus for some enthusiasts. It does well to showcase the age.

Soooo sweet lil burn at the end which lingers on your tongue.

Nose is sweet and fruity with a hint of cookie dough and molasses. At first soft on the palate but comes on strong. Classic Old Forester flavor, but more complex. Oily on the lips. Finishes strong and slow. A quick hint of menthol then cinnamon. Superior.

Vanilla on the nose. Vanilla and sweet at the very front. Brandied cherries and strong peppercorn at the end.

See the tasting notes in the description, they seem spot on.