I was sort of taken aback by this bourbon — I have been an Old Forester fan for quite some time, and decided to grab a bottle of Statesman on a whim at the grocery store since I’ve never tried it before. I think I always assumed it was a bit of a gimmick release? But I was wrong. It is really nicely balanced, sweet and fruity with just enough spice and heat to keep me coming back for another sip. Great finish too — I got a little more heat on the back end than I got upfront, but again, this is really nicely balanced. The proof seems to be just right to let the flavors shine without overpowering. Maybe controversial, but this might be my favorite regular Old Forester bottling. (Yes, I am saying it is better than 1920 Prohibition Style.)