Old Forester 1920
Full disclosure: I think I’ve said this elsewhere, but there’s something about Old Forester and Brown-Forman products that doesn’t agree with my palate. Emphasis on my palate - I know they’re not putting out terrible whiskey, it just doesn’t taste good to me. The only exceptions I’ve found are medium-to-high-proof Jack Daniel’s and Old Forester Rye. Otherwise, it’s just not my thing.
But, of course I had to try the Old Forester Whiskey Row line. I’m going in reverse order, starting with the 1920 and then hitting the others as samples come along. Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style comes in at 115 proof, supposedly the proof a barrel entry proof of 100 would result in after maturation and the angel’s share (this is according to the official website - is it true? is it accurate? possibly, but saying it that definitively just makes me skeptical).
Of note: Old Forester was one of only six pre-Prohibition whiskies to continue production through the Noble Experiment for distribution as a medicinal whiskey (thank you Mr. Brown for your advocacy!). According to their website, Old Forester is “the only bourbon continuously sold by the same company that has been available for sale before, during, and after Prohibition.”
Old Forester 1920: Specs
Classification: Bourbon Whiskey
Origin: Brown-Forman Distillery
Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Proof: 115 (57.5% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: KY
Old Forester 1920 Price: $50
Old Forester 1920 Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Maple syrup. No rims, droplets all over the glass.
Nose: Funky - ripe bananas or black plantains. Pleasant cinnamon note. Rounds out to banana bread.
Palate: Nerds candy - apple and grape, specifically, with banana Runts. Tons of artificial candy flavors. A dry heat develops, becoming a little bitter and bready. Caramel and baked vanilla. Mouthfeel is very coating, but also thin and it dries quickly.
Finish: Oaky and tannic - plenty of caramel and banana bread, but there’s an off-putting artificial and tannic finish that drags this down.
Overall: Clearly, Brown-Forman just isn’t my thing. I like bananas, I like banana bread, I love Nerds. Somehow, when these things come together in a whiskey, the only thing I can say is “pour me something else”.
Final Rating: 4.0
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)
8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)
7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)
6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)
4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)
3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)
2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)
1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)
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