Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Bourbon Review

By Randall H. Borkus

Rating: B+

Old Forester is one of Brown-Forman’s prized brands, perhaps moreso than it’s crown jewel, Jack Daniel’s. Company founder George Garvin Brown created Old Forester on Louisville, Kentucky’s famous whiskey row in 1870.  Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond is the second release in the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series, and has been crafted to honor a seminal moment in bourbon history the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.

This 100 proof expression was specially crafted to honor the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. To be labeled as Bottled in Bond, a whiskey must be the product of one distillation season from one distillery, as well as a minimum of four years old, aged under government supervision (i.e. a bonded warehouse) and bottled at 100 proof. The motive behind the Act was to create a consistency and quality for the Bourbon lovers and to protect the public from unscrupulous rectifiers that would sometimes even sell poison to make a buck.

This Bottled-in-Bond bourbon mash bill is 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% barley; with a #4 charred barrel, 125 entry proof into the barrel; and bottled at 50% ABV.  The bottle boasts a slick old-school historic looking label that jumps out on my shelf.

The Bourbon
The bourbon whiskey juice’s color is a bright glowing cooper brown when held up to the light with respectable legs dancing down the sides of my glass. The nose is a bit hot and opens up with a burst of sweet honey-vanilla and a hint of charred oak and a touch of coconut cookie. On my palate, the alcohol is invitingly warm and opens into notes of Carmel, burnt coconut, cooked banana pudding and loads of oak spice. The finish is full bodied, warming and long with loads of burnt brown sugar and more oak spice lingering in my mouth.  This is just plain delicious!

Old Forester 1897 Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon is a very good sipping whiskey that goes well with a spicy cigar and a warm summer night.

The Price
The great news (for me) is that this Kentucky juice is plentiful in Chicago at $49.99 a bottle.