Old Forester 117 Turns To Old Scotch Barrels

Old Forester has announced the latest release in their 117 series: Scotch Cask Finish, a  93-proof liquid that honors George Garvin Brown’s Scottish heritage. This is an interesting twist in the usual order of things, because the vast majority of Scotch whiskies are aged in ex-bourbon barrels or casks built from ex-bourbon barrel staves. It would be interesting to know if the old Scotch casks used to finish this bourbon were, previously ex-bourbon barrels, but that is a question for another time.

This limited-edition bottle celebrates Brown’s Gaelic roots with the sherry and wine barrels sourced and matured from the protected Speyside region around the River Spey in northeastern Scotland. The cask finish highlights Old Forester’s natural fruit character which is a result of fermentation with the oldest yeast strain.

“This release is special to the family history our brand was built on,” said Old Forester Master Taster Melissa Rift. “We’ve been creating top-quality, rare and innovative expressions for 150 years, and this scotch whiskey captures our founder’s spirit in another rich and smooth liquid, which I recommend serving neat.”

Scotch Cask Finish marks the latest installment in the 117 Series, a limited-expression lineup that debuted in Spring 2021 and focuses on innovation and experimentation.

Old Forester 117 Series: Scotch Cask Finish is bottled at 93-proof and is available starting today (December 12) at the retail shop at Old Forester Distilling Co. and at select Kentucky stores.  The suggested retail price is $59.99