Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel Strength

flight pick #3

flight pick #2

flight pick #1

Liquor City Uncorked pick, "Gallenstein Selection #17" Warehouse 1; Floor 5 65.8% abv; 131.6 proof Open 4 months Nose - Spicy cinnamon and caramel, nutmeg, cardamon, overbaked bread, sweet hay, medium oak, and strong ethanol. Palate - Red hot cinnamon, caramel, toffee, rye bread, wet grass, harsh grain, and fresh leather. Finish is medium-long with dry, bitter oak, dry cinnamon, fake sugar, powdery baking spices, and harsh ethanol. I think this will be my last Old Forester SBBS for a while, at least until I can taste a sample first. I just don't think there's much value here, the OF 1920 is more refined and simply better. This is either my 4th or 5th bottle of OFSBBS and I've never been impressed. My problem is it sits squarely in between two superior barrel proofs that are the same or cheaper. I've said this before in my reviews, but I think depending on which end of the spectrum you want with the Old Forester profile, Jack Daniel's and Elijah Craig barrel proofs are both better buys. If you're looking for sweet maple, go with Jack Daniel's. If you're looking for an older, refined oak and vanilla profile, go with Elijah Craig. To me, these bottles are too hot, too young, and not sweet enough.

131.1 proof “Jason’s Favorite” pick from Fox Cigar Bar in Gilbert AZ. Nose is 100% on profile for Brown Foreman/Old Forster and is full of cherry cola, orange zest, chocolate, furniture varnish, soft oak, vanilla, sarsaparilla, pine, clove, and slightest hint of banana. Very enjoyable. Ethanol is noticeable but less than expected and not detracting. (It is 131 proof after all) Palate open with maraschino cherry, root beer, tobacco, raisin, toffee, orange peel, pepper, and flan. Flavors are robust as expected. Finish is a pretty jarring departure in the form of a major spice bloom with both cinnamon, ginger, clove, and chili pepper (ghost pepper, much heat not a lot of flavor) along with decently aged oak. Everything is felt under the tongue. Mouthfeel is full and viscous. Yeah, I like this a lot. The sweet/spicy profile worked for me, but I wish it was a smoother transition to the finish with elements of the palate carrying through instead of a quick roller coaster ride into Spice Mountain. That said, it’s bold and a little challenging and I like that. At $109 I paid for this would surely rebuy any variations of this expression I can get my hands on at a similar price.

Incredibly complex and a beautiful aroma. A hard spice taste. Really enjoyable higher proof.

Fady you picked a good one!