BACKGROUND: The 1920 expression was the third of four releases in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series of bourbons, which highlights various periods in the Brown-Forman company’s history. The other Whiskey Row releases include the 1870, which symbolically evokes the original batching process of the first Old Forester bourbon, the 1897, which celebrates the passage of the Bottled In Bond Act, and the 1910, a heavily-oaked bourbon representing a bottling line fire that occurred at the distillery in the early 20th Century. The 1920 is a “Prohibition Style” whiskey reminiscent of the bourbon being produced at the time the federal Volstead Act was enacted by Congress. Brown-Forman, the maker of Old Forester, was one of six distilleries licensed to manufacture “medicinal whiskey” that could be purchased with a doctor’s prescription throughout Prohibition. At 115 Proof, the 1920 has the highest alcohol content of all the offerings in the Whiskey Row series, and that particular proof point is significant in the telling this particular bourbon’s story. During Prohibition, whiskey was required to be bottled at 100 proof, but to keep from adding too much water to the aged whiskey to proof it down, distillers also barreled whiskey around 100 proof. Brown-Forman estimates that, with “angel’s share” factored in, an aged bourbon of the era would have been about 115 proof out of the barrel. NOSE: The nose smells strongly of banana, which is typically of many Brown-Forman products, but oak and an underlying scent of citrus are present, as well. PALATE: The palate tastes completely and EXACTLY like the cordial juice inside a chocolate covered cherry. The cordial flavor is so dominant that it supersedes anything else. The oak and caramel, for example, that are typical in most bourbons are rendered completely mute in this one. It is a sweet and exceptionally tasty palate. FINISH: Rye spice and chocolate finally make an appearance on the finish. The heat from the 115 proof and the palate flavor combine to form a cherry flambe’ that subsides into a distinct after dinner mint flavor. FINAL ASSESSMENT: I consider myself a student of history, and one of the reasons I jumped feet first into the bourbon hobby was the fascinating stories that abound within its past. The Whiskey Row series allows me to not only study the history of Brown-Forman and various eras of bourbon production, but to directly experience and taste them, as well. While all of the expressions in the Whiskey Row series are enjoyable offerings, the 1920 is a standout that I highly recommend.