Old Forester The 117 Series: High Angels' Share Barrels

2021 Batch 1: 4.5 2021 Batch 2: 4.25-4.5

Batch 3. About 65 bucks. Obviously...just dumb luck I found this one. I wasn't after it. Nose - HOT. So full disclosure this is in a copita and maybe the wrong glass. Oak, oak, and oak. It's hot, it's astringent...and yet. I kinda like it? Pull back and you'll get lovely vanilla, banana foster, and just good rich smokey toasted marsh mellow. Taste - Rich and full of flavor. 110 proof...you could tell me 130 with how rich this is. The back end needs more oils for THAT, but as a drinker I don't need a bit more here. It's fruity, yet heavy oak and char...it's big it's bold. Man. I gotta add water to explain this one. Somehow that sometimes metallic and off putting note you get on old forester has been covered in oak and pushed into a wonderful spice forward drinker. Lovely from top to bottom. For you looking for more notes, just chocolate, smoked vanilla, bannanas, cream, charred and smoked oak, with a fruity kinda pie thing. I'm impressed as hell. This is a flavor bomb up front, but not a deep nuanced whisky. Giving it a crazy high 3.25 and I'd go way higher for my enjoyment. This is everything I want in bourbon. Other than nuanced and complex age! And frankly it's got more of that than I'm letting on. There's depth here, but it comes on so intense it's hard to fully explore and savor.

Dark fruit,brown sugar,vanilla wafer cookies. Robust,sophisticated pour. Thumbs up !!!

This is Goldilocks for Old Forester … not too spicy, not too hot, not too pedestrian, and not too flat. Just right in all aspects. The 110 is a perfect proof point over many of their standard offerings and just below 1920’s. The 150 series compares nicely with the age and flavor profile but is just a bit too hot. Velvety mouthfeel with caramel as the top flavor. The finish and KY hug is significant for its proof point but ends at just the right time. This is a top 10 pour all time for me.