Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon 90 Proof

I’m coming back to this bottle after almost 2 weeks and it’s opened up quite well. It reminds me of an oaky-er Elijah Craig Sm Batch or a slightly less sweet and more bitter Buffalo Trace. Palate is not quite as creamy but.... Plenty of vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and hints of oak however nothing like the oak in OF 1920 or 10. Except bitter in a good way if you can imagine. Generally barrel bitterness does no good for me but this is an exception.

Store pick from Liquor Express in Tempe Arizona. Interestingly, they had two picks available; a “sweet” pick and a “spicy” pick. I went with the “sweet”. On to the review.., Nose is primarily a vanilla bomb, with some caramel, orange, and a nice toasted oak note underneath. On the palate there’s caramel, vanilla, orange, and cinnamon and not much else. Very “traditional”. Doesn’t really change in the short finish, just more of the same with a hint of oak but you have to really concentrate on it to pick it out. Very mild on the spice level. Mouthfeel is thin. This is decent if you like traditional bourbon flavors (I do) and has zero off-flavors, but lacks any sort of pizazz or character. Just not enough going on. I purchased this on a Black Friday sale for $34, but the normal price is $45 and if I had paid that I would have been sorely disappointed. No way it’s a rebuy at that price with everything else out there.

This is a single barrel store pick from Chuck’s Liquors (Bowling Green, KY USA) Bottled: 2019 Warehouse: L Floor: 4 Nose: Woodford mash bill shows up but with a little more volume—sweet fruits, vanilla, caramel Palate: quite rich for a mainline Old Forester, the single barrel variant shines here, the barrel and oak come through on the palate quite well. The oak is subtle but it’s there. Finish: medium, with some rye spice This is a great example of what the main OF line can be. The Whiskey Row series is excellent for sure but this single barrel is great as well if you have had the regular 86 or 90 proof or even the bonded version.

A little hot for my taste

Rich flavor but somehow not well balanced, smokey, nutty, touch of cinnamon. Lack of fruity

Cap ‘n Cork Barrel Pick Nose: Astringent, strong alcohol on the nose with some cinnamon. I also get a whisper of berry Edit: with more tastings, I get a pronounced chocolate covered cherry flavor. On my second bottle. Palette: very sweet with vanilla, berry, along with oak, and tobacco. Medium burn that does not mask the complexity. Finish: lingers with little burn. Lasting flavor of vanilla and some cinnamon. Overall, I like this barrel pick. It is an approachable sipper with nice flavor. It may benefit from a higher proof, but 90 doesn’t disappoint.