Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon Review

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: B-

Old Forester is arguably the longest running Bourbon brand on the market today which is over 145 years old, and entwined with the giant whiskey company Brown-Forman. George Garvin Brown created Old Forester on Louisville, KY’s famous whiskey row in 1870. To honor that milestone year in bourbon history, they crafted Old Forester 1870 Original Batch, the first expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series, a trio that also include 1897 Bottled-in-Bond and 1920 Prohibition Style.

Old Forester of 1870 was a composite of batches obtained from three distilleries for the purpose of crafting a consistent flavor profile that could be relied upon for Bourbon lovers. To imitate that process today, they select barrels from three warehouses, each barrel originating from a different day of production with a different age profile to contribute to the final rendering. The three sources of Old Forester whiskey are mixed together to create Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon.

The Old Forester 1870 Original Batch bourbon mash bill is 72% corn, 18 rye and 10% barley with a #4 charred barrel and 125 entry proof, bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof).

The Bourbon
The bourbon itself is a beautiful dark cooper brown. The legs are rather thin. My nose is consumed with a burst of caramel and a touch of burnt marsh mellow. The mouthfeel is slightly warm, with flavor splashes of dried fruit, new leather and hints of tobacco all dancing to the back of my palate. The finish is a bit short with hints of cinnamon and ginger candy cane leftovers in my mouth.

This is a good sipping whiskey especially for the new bourbon drinker. At 90 proof it’s an easy drinker neat.

The Price
This Kentucky juice is plentiful in my town of Chicago, going for $44.99 a bottle.