Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel Strength

Pick from Bourbon Wine & Spirits. 131 Proof.

Fascinating—I have never experienced this much disparity between barrels. My OF barrel strength is similar in character to Jack Daniels Barrel Proof: very alcohol forward, big & sweet & tasty but with an unremarkable mouthfeel—an easy bottle to like, but a hard one to love. The OF barrel proof Private pick I just tried at The Norman in OK is a different beast. It has the same elegant mouthfeel of the George T Stagg, so perfectly balanced that it’s 132 proof drinks like it’s 105. Where mine is rough, this is somehow equally delicate & massive—much closer to the OF 117. One is good but not great, the other one of the finest bottles I’ve ever tasted.

While not reaching the unassailable greatness of the 1920 and 117 for me, cranked up OF is still one of my favorite things on the shelf at present. All the OF notes I love, dialed a little higher—what’s not to love?

Fernside "We've Gone to Plaid!" barrel pick. Honey and fruit on the nose. Vanilla and mint cookies. Oily mouthfeel with long finish.

“Jackie of Hearts” k8 134.9 picked by Jackie Zykan Tasted at a bar so no detailed notes. Remember pipe nose and the creamiest mouthfeel I’ve ever had. Like OFBB but much better.