The Old Forester® Whiskey Row Series honors distinct moments in the First Bottled Bourbon®’s history. Each expression in the series is based on a theme that draws upon the brand’s rich heritage of production on W. Main Street, also known as Louisville’s famous “Whiskey Row.”
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The Volstead Act of 1920 which initiated Prohibition in the USA granted permits to 6 distillers in Kentucky to continue to bottle bourbon for medicinal purposes. Through one of these permits, Old Forester continued to be produced as medicinal whiskey on Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row. It is the only bourbon still produced by the same family that has been available for sale before, during, and after Prohibition.
During this time, all whiskies had to be bottled at 100 Proof. With a barrel entry proof of 100, the “angel’s share” would have created a 115 proof whiskey after maturation. To pay homage to this era, Old Forester presents 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon at 115 proof to represent the rich flavor profile this bourbon had nearly 100 years ago.
COLOR
Rich chestnut red.
AROMA
An intense medley of cherry preserves, drippy caramel, dark chocolate, thickened maple syrup and seasoned oak spiciness.
FLAVOR
Dark caramel coats layers of malt nuttiness and sweet graham cracker all warmed by green peppercorn and coriander spice brightened with a hint of cedar.
FINISH
Tart apple crispness gives way to a long smoky finish full of toasted marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker sweetness.
In 1870, George Garvin Brown batched barrels obtained from three distilleries to create a consistent flavor profile. To emulate that process today, we also select barrels from three warehouses, each barrel originating from a different day of production, with a different entry proof and a different age profile.
The three expressions of Old Forester are then batched together to craft Old Forester 1870 Original Batch. This 90-proof bourbon will be minimally filtered, to honor the processes available to George Garvin Brown at that time.
COLOR
Soft, velvety orange-brown.
AROMA
Clove notes spice up a medley of citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit, blood orange), all softened with a delicate, sweet honeysuckle character.
FLAVOR
Baking spices (clove, cinnamon, nutmeg) flow into a citrus-fruit mix and shortbread sweetness.
FINISH
Soft, with lingering fruit and spice character.
1897 Bottled in Bond is crafted to honor a watershed moment in bourbon history – the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.
The Bottled-in-Bond Act established strict quality standards for whisky production. To be labeled as Bottled in Bond in 1897, whisky must be the product of one distillation season, one distiller, and from one distillery.
The concept behind the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 – the idea of “sealed-in quality” – was something that Old Forester – America’s First Bottled Bourbon® – introduced in 1870.
COLOR
A rich reddish-brown.
AROMA
Robust, intense caramel. Rich vanilla with roasted coffee notes, spiced dark fruit and mature oak.
FLAVOR
Mouth-filling. Sweet and intense. Deep fruit, spice and oak notes layered over dark caramel and vanilla.
FINISH
Big and bold.