I actually finally sat down to write this old forester 100 proof review since I realized I've been going via a bottle every single couple weeks without also considering it. In the world where individuals are literally battling over allocated bottles and paying multiple digits for "unicorn" bourbons, there's something incredibly refreshing in regards to a bottle you may find at any corner liquor store with regard to about twenty-five dollars that actually tastes like real bourbon.
Old Forester includes a hell of a history, but I'm not right here to give you a brief history lecture. A person probably already know these people were the 1st to sell bourbon in sealed glass bottles in 1870. What matters nowadays is whether the particular liquid inside that bottle holds upward when you're seated on your couch right after a long Wednesday. Spoiler alert: it does.
The Vibe and the particular Bottle
Before we get into the tasting, let's look at the presentation. For a long time, this was defined as "Old Forester Signature, " and you may still hear old-timers call it that will. Nowadays, the tag is cleaner, sporting a burnt-orange appearance that screams "traditional bourbon. " This doesn't try too hard. It's not really shaped just like a grenade or a decanter from the 1920s; it's just the sturdy bottle along with a screw cap (at least around the smaller sizes) or a standard cork.
The color in the glass is a nice, wealthy amber. It appears a little darker than your typical budget pour, which usually usually signals that it hasn't already been watered down to the legal least. At 100 proof (50% ABV), it sits because "Goldilocks" zone—strong enough to let you understand it's there, but not so warm that it'll melt your face away.
The "Old Forester Banana" within the Nose
If you've spent any moment drinking through the particular Old Forester selection, you know there's a specific scent profile they're recognized for. I actually call it the particular "Old Forester Clown. "
When I very first cracked this bottle for your old forester 100 proof review , that scent hit me immediately. It's nothing like a new, green banana; it's more like a heavy, overripe banana as well as banana bread. Along with that, you get a massive hit of brown sugar and a bit of done oak.
It's surprisingly complex with regard to a bottle only at that price point. I actually also obtain a sign of cherry and maybe some baking spices—think cinnamon or even nutmeg. It doesn't smell "thin" or even medicinal like various other cheap 100-proof choices. It smells special, inviting, and truthfully, a lot more expensive than this is.
Exactly how It Actually Preferences
The first sip is exactly where the 100 proof really shows the value. The mouthfeel is thicker than I expected. It coats the language nicely, that is something I usually just find in containers that cost two times as much.
The sweetness from the particular nose carries more than, but it's well balanced by a sudden kick of rye essence. Old Forester uses a mash costs that's roughly 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. That 18% rye may be the magic formula sauce here. This gives the bourbon a peppery, spicy edge that slashes through the caramel and vanilla.
Here's what I'm picking upward on the palate: * Large Caramel: Like the kind you find inside the Twix bar. * Spiced Cherry: Not a coughing syrup cherry, but a deep, darkish fruit flavor. * Done Oak: It's there, but it isn't bitter. * That will Banana again: It morphs into something more like a Bananas Foster dessert.
It's a bold flavor profile. It doesn't shy away through being a "classic" bourbon. If you like your rum to taste like candy and wooden, you're going in order to be a delighted camper.
The conclusion: Does It Burn off?
Since this particular is a 100-proof whiskey, people often ask if it has that "ethanol burn. " Honestly? It's pretty soft for the proof. Don't get me wrong, you'll sense a "Kentucky Hug" inside your chest, but it's a comfortable, pleasant heat instead than a razor-sharp, stinging burn in the back of your throat.
The finish will be medium to long. The spice remains for some time, and since the sweetness ends, you're left with a bit of dry leather plus more of this cinnamon. It makes you would like to take another sip pretty much immediately, that is a dangerous quality to get a bottle this particular affordable.
Combining vs. Sipping
This is how the old forester 100 proof review will get interesting. I'm the bit of a purist, so We usually drink the bourbon neat or with one big ice cube. This bottle holds up flawlessly fine neat. The 100 proof provides it enough central source that it doesn't fall apart if a person add a little of water or a rock.
However, if you are usually an Old Fashioned fan, this may become the best mixing up bourbon on the particular planet. Because of that high proof and the spicy rye character, it doesn't fail to find a way out when you add sugar and bitters. Most 80-proof bourbons disappear within a cocktail, getting out of the relationship with a drink that just tastes like cold viscous syrup. Old Forester 100 stays front plus center. It makes a "stiff" beverage in the simplest way possible.
How Does It Compare?
You can't really do an old forester 100 proof review without talking about its biggest rival: Wild Turkey 101.
In the world associated with "Budget Bottled-in-Bond-ish" bourbons, these two are the heavyweights. Wild Turkey tips is usually a bit funkier, with more of the "dusty" and organic profile. Old Forester is much even more regarding the sweets—the caramel, it, and that will signature banana.
Personally, We think Old Forester is a bit more approachable with regard to people who are just getting yourself into higher-proof whiskey. It's a little "cleaner" plus "sweeter" than the Turkey. If I'm creating a cocktail, I actually reach for the Forester. Basically want some thing a little more rugged to sip by a campfire, I might get the Turkey. Yet 90% of times? I'm picking the Old Forester.
Last Thoughts: The Worth Proposition
It's easy to get captured up within the hype of the bourbon world. We most want the 12-year-old single barrels plus the limited releases. But those containers aren't for everyday life.
The reason I actually give this like a high mark in my old forester 100 proof review will be the sheer consistency. You can purchase a bottle within Florida, New You are able to, or California, plus it's going to taste the identical each single time. It's the best "safety" bottle.
Is definitely it the most complex whiskey I've ever tasted? No. Is it going in order to make life? Probably not. However for the particular price of the decent lunch, you get a liter of high-quality, high-proof bourbon that likes much better than stuff twice its price.
The particular Pros: * Incredible value for the cost. * High proof makes it versatile for sipping or mixing. * Affluent, sweet flavor profile with a nice hot and spicy kick. * Obtainable almost everywhere.
The Cons: * In the event that you hate the particular taste of plums, you might struggle with this. * The screw cap on smaller containers feels a bit "cheap" (if you care about that).
At the end of the day, Old Forester 100 Proof could be the "workhorse" of my liquor cabinet. It's the bottle I provide to friends who else aren't "whiskey people, " and it's the bottle I pour for me personally when I don't want to overthink things. If a person haven't tried this lately, or if you've been staying to the lower-proof 86-proof version, perform yourself a favour and pick this particular up. The additional 14 proof factors make an entire world of difference. It's a classic regarding a reason, and it's not going anywhere.