Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 94 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 50% |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $59.99 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Review Updated | 2023-10-12 |
Old Forester 117 Series: Bottled in Bond Review
Since it debuted in Spring 2021, Old Forester’s 117 series has featured expressions showcasing the brand’s range and penchant for experimentation. So far, that’s included single-warehouse releases, extra-aged takes on the brand’s standard expressions, a “high angel’s share” release, and more. The latest Old Forester 117 release is the lineup’s first bottled-in-bond expression, available at the company’s Whiskey Row distillery in limited quantities.
From the brand’s press release:
“In accordance with the 1897 Bottled in Bond Act, this product is bottled from barrels filled during a single distillation season – the wet and warm late Spring of 2014.”
That equates to (roughly) nine year-old whiskey, bottled at 100 proof. Let’s see how it tastes!
Old Forester 117 Series: Bottled in Bond Review
As with all VinePair whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.
Nose
On the nose, Old Forester 117: Bottled in Bond hits with notes of mixed berry and a touch of smoke, like a berry cobbler cooked in a campfire Dutch oven. For 100 proof, there’s plenty of ethanol here, so some small breaks between sniffs are helpful in dissecting aromas.
Not overly sweet, the nose transitions to both banana and sour apple candy with a small hint of table sugar. That’s backed up by plenty of oak influence. Like most Brown-Forman whiskeys, this was aged in a toasted barrel at one of the company-owned cooperages. And like a lot of Brown-Forman’s bourbons, I sense some significant influence from the wood sugars to accentuate those tart notes.
Overall, this bottled-in-bond bourbon brings a classic, complex, and welcome Old Forester nose. We’re off to a great start.
Taste
The mouth is fruit — cooked apricots and peaches in addition to berries — coupled with a fascinating note of fresh parsley. The palate is sweeter than the nose, and that cooked fruit anchors the entire flavor profile. Fresh herbs come through in subsequent sips and pair nicely with the apricot/peach medley. Warm spice (but not to hot cinnamon degree) lingers right after those greener flavors, transitioning things back to cooked bananas (or perhaps more accurately, plantains).
While this isn’t the richest or most complex Old Forester expression I’ve ever had, it’s a fun reminder that even a “typical” brand profile can bring fun curveballs.
Finish
The bourbon ends with a long, creamy finish carried by a mouthfeel that feels about perfect for 100 proof. There’s plenty more roasted fruit, this time with a trickle of vanilla glaze. It’s the sweetest part of the pour and a nice spring back from the parsley and herbal notes.
Old Forester 117 Series: Bottled in Bond Rating
94/100
Recap
The Old Forester 117 Series is a nod to bourbon nerds looking for novelty and the occasional sidestep from a storied brand’s lineup. The series’ first Bottled in Bond expression is a fresh take on classic Old Forester. It not only meets but exceeds some of Brown-Forman’s recent high-end offerings (including the 2023 Birthday Bourbon). Even though the bottle size is just 375ml for these releases, that could be a tempting deal if you can get it for retail at just over $60 (with tax).
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