Old Forester Statesman

On sale from $54 to $43, so had to try one of the last OFs I haven't. Tasting neat Dark copper and strong coating legs in the glass. Nose is floral and sweet, vanilla and cherry, with some grassy notes in the background. On the palate, sweet sugar, caramel, ripe stone fruits, vanilla and a little tannic oak. Average at first but becoming an oily coating mouthfeel as it moves into the finish which is tannic oak, baking and rye spices, grassy, and tingling mint. Still sweet, but a real tingling mouthfeel and some ethanol. Finish is long, turning dry and a little funky like old dried fruit. I'm glad I tried this--sweeter (too sweet?) and more fruit forward than most of the other OFs that tend to oaky smoky cherry. Sips ok, will mix well. An ice cube softens the ethanol in the palate-to-finish, but not the spiciness. That's a good thing. Still a sweet bourbon overall.