Ah, Old Forester classic. Boy this brings be back to a simpler time in my life. I've enjoyed this bourbon for a while and at typical, noisy dive bars ( or really any bar that doesn't tout itself as a "whiskey bar" ) there are a few go to selections I know I can count on. This, Makers Mark, Buffalo Trace, Four Roses, Woodford Reserve. No matter how basic the selection is, every bar is bound to have at LEAST one of those. But I've never actually wrote a proper taste on it. And it sure deserves one. The nose contains a lot of classic bourbon smell but is unique in its own right. Sweet corn syrup and slightly burned caramel carry the rest of the scents which include a little bit of brown sugar, some charred oak barrel and just the faintest kiss of apricots. The palate opens innocently and very sweet. That corn syrup and caramel mix well to kick things off. The balance of corn syrup to other flavors here meshes much better than Four Roses which I find leans heavily into the realm of sweetened corn syrup. A little bit of dried apricot sweetness ushers in the mid taste which is spicier and drier than the front. Tannic oak and leather mingle with orange pith. The spiciness and dryness pull through to the finish, leaning in the direction of dry. That tannic oak stays, but brings with it some charred sugar, a little bit of tongue tingling black pepper and the zesty and bitter orange pith stays until the end. Yeah, this one is a solid bourbon. For the price point, this classic can be had any which way you choose and it would do well in any setting. In the "budget bourbon" segment, I think this is second only to Buffalo Trace but is much easier to find and at a much more affordable price point.