Old Forester The 117 Series: High Angels' Share Barrels

Dark sugars, leather, strong overripe red fruits

Carmel apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Flavor disappears somewhat in the finish but it has a nice long hug.

Batch #2. Nose is vanilla baked apple pie. Taste is sweet spicy and fruity with a vanilla baking spice finish. Excellent. I like better than the 21 birthday.

Thanks for the opportunity to try this one Scott !

Neat. Sample. Oh I enjoy this nose. It is what I expect from Old Forester 1920 with another layer of goodness to break apart. This is a full banana split Sunday with the strawberry on one side and the butterscotch on the other. The strawberry is even more prevalent than the banana surprisingly. There is this nice layer of smokiness and char. Wow, even got a whiff of peaches and pound cake. This nose is so fun. Okay, initial impression was not what I expected. Mouthfeel a bit average. Initial flavor on the tongue was a sweet mint. I’m going to reset a bit and come back, that was odd…. Coming back to it, still the same impression upfront. Transitions into that pound cake with banana runts. Finish brings the strawberry and vanilla. The char and smokiness is popping up mid palate through the finish now too. That strawberry dominates the finish though. Amazing nose, disappointing taste. Taste felt disjointed and lacked the deliciousness hinted at on the nose. The finish is nice with that said. The strawberry gives it a unique feel to other OF. The sample makes me less excited to own a bottle of this though.

A big hype rarity that actually lives up to the hype, OF 117 is a gem. Somehow delicate & big at the same time, this is actually a perfect whiskey. While better than the OF 1920, it doesn’t murder it though—which is a testament to just how profound it is that Old Forester produces something that available and consistently great. But make no mistake—117 is extraordinary; the highest elevation of the OF flavor profile.

Some of the best Old Forester I have ever had.. truly a special make. Jackie has made something special with this one. Cheers!