Old Forester is celebrating its 150th Anniversary by releasing a limited edition Bourbon. The new Whiskey from the Brown-Forman-owned brand honors the legacy of George Garvin Brown, who started the distillery back in 1870.
Old Forester 150th Anniversary Bourbon references George’s original process, composed of three batches, unfiltered and each presented at individual batch strength. The limited release is presented in an amber glass bottle,and will come in a commemorative canister.
“This special bourbon has been in the works for some time now, and while it is exciting for our family and colleagues, I hope the larger Old Forester family – the bourbon lovers and fans – will appreciate it just as much,” said Campbell Brown, Old Forester President and Fifth-Generation Brown Family Member. “My great-great grandfather had quite the vision for his whisky. He was bringing something to the market that had previously not existed and today, we instill his legacy of ingenuity in everything we do – especially in the halls at Old Forester Distilling Co., in the same building George ran the business in the early days of the company.”
For the Old Forester 150th Anniversary Bourbon, 150 barrels were chosen by Master Distiller Chris Morris and set aside for this limited-release product. At maturity, several barrels lost their full contents to the Angel’s Share. The resulting aged liquids were sampled by Master Taster Jackie Zykan and separated by-hand into three distinct batches, differing in proof and flavor profile.
“We designed the expression to share our unique story,” said Zykan. “George Garvin Brown was an entrepreneur and an innovator. I have composed three unique blends to honor his process of batching from the three original distilleries. Each captures a distinct facet of the beloved Old Forester flavor profile, each upholding his highest standards of quality.”
Old Forester 150th Anniversary Bourbon Batch Details and Notes from the Master Taster:
Batch 01/03 – 125.6 proof/62.8% ABV, comprised of 46 barrels; fruit bomb
Nose: maple syrup and perfectly ripe orchard fruits, apricot and plum
Mid: açaí and black current
Finish: graham cracker, subtle peppermint, long well-rounded spice, moderately dry
Batch 02/03 – 126.4 proof/63.2% ABV, comprised of 48 barrels; sweet and spry
Nose: cherry cordial and raspberry preserves
Mid: French toast and chocolate malt
Finish: brilliant and perky spice at the front of the palate, touch of cedar, mildly dry
Batch 03/03 – 126.8 proof/63.4% ABV, comprised of 53 barrels; green and spice
Nose: dill and bright orange peel, hint of light brown sugar
Mid: sweetens in the middle to melon and pine
Finish: medium dry, tingling green peppercorns, rosemary, grapefruit peel, and lingering anise.
A limited number of cases of the Whiskey will be available nationally come October 2020 and will be on sale for $150. To find a location near you, check out the Old Forester official website.