Old Forester is one of the oldest continually produced bourbons on the market, made by the Brown-Forman distillery. The same parent company also produces the widely known Woodford Reserve, in addition to the Whiskey Row series of Old Forester bourbons. This review, however, will focus on their entry level bourbon, the Old Forester Classic 86 proof. I am a fan of the rich taste and complexities of the Woodford Reserve products, but this is my first taste of anything from their Old Forester line. At $20 the OF Classic 86 is certainly affordable, but will its taste offer a worthwhile addition to the collection? Let’s find out! Enjoyed neat in a Glencairn, no added water. On the nose, you are greeted with a fairly complex arrangement of smells. Most prominent is a sweet floral bouquet, augmented with a fairly rich caramel and vanilla, slight note of minty green apple, and an undercurrent of nice oaky and a bit of pine woodiness to round it out. I’ve got to say at this price point I expected far less depth and inviting aromas than what you get! Nice start! On the palate the bourbon is fairly thin, but not terribly so. The sip is not very sweet, more tart I suppose, and starts with a bit harsh corn grain alcohol forward punch of heat. Luckily that initial bit of harshness fades quickly and leaves a nice bit of dark cocoa mixed with orange citrus peels, a bit reminiscent of the Woodford I enjoy actually. Afterward a hint of rye spice and pepper builds up until a nice deep vanilla oaky presence is revealed. The finish is really pretty lasting and flavorful, leaving a pleasant wet tobacco leaf and maple syrup note mixed with oaky goodness. A pleasant, if faint, old oak with cedar taste lingers long after the last sip, a bit unexpected at the length here. Overall, I must say I feel like I got more than my $20 worth from this bourbon! I detect similar flavor notes from the more expensive Woodford Reserve, however the OF 86 lacks its refinement and enhanced complexity. So I can certainly see the family lineage here in this whiskey, but it’s got a more youthful, rowdy character than its more mature brethren, all expected from a $20 bottle. The only real flaw with this is the bit of harsh corn grain alcohol start, which luckily doesn’t last very long and is certainly forgivable. I actually enjoy this one more than I expected to at this price. While a bit unrefined, there is a lot of unique character to the aroma and flavor, I think more than you’d find from a similar $20 bottle from Beam, Evan W, or Four Roses. It won’t unseat my favorite in the category, Wild Turkey 101, but the OF 86 has earned a spot in my “inexpensive” rotation among Dickel 12 and Beam Black or Distiller’s Cut, for an inexpensive sip that tastes a bit more complex than what you paid for it! Probably a 3.75 rating for the whiskey alone, but I'll bump to a 4 given the good value. Nicely done OF! Cheers!