Table Of Contents
The Details
| Rating | 92 |
| Style |
Bourbon American Whiskey Whiskey |
| Produced In |
Kentucky United States |
| ABV | 50% |
| Availability | Limited |
| Price | $115.00 |
| Reviewed By | |
| Review Updated | 2024-02-12 |
Old Forester 1924 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review
Old Forester’s newest release stands out for a few reasons. Dubbed Old Forester 1924, it’s a 100 proof, 10-year straight bourbon, a significant jump up in age for the brand’s Whiskey Row series. (Notably, this expression is not bottled-in-bond.)
According to the Brown-Forman-owned brand, the release commemorates the 100-year anniversary of an important Prohibition-era juncture in Old Forester’s history, when it received a government permit to bottle medicinal whiskey.
“In 1924, Old Forester acquired barrels from closed distillers, with different mash bills, and bottled that liquid as Old Forester,” according to the brand press release. “This special release commemorates that moment in time.”
Old Forester 1924 is the oldest expression in the brand’s line, save for the annual and highly limited Birthday Bourbon release. And 1924 is also a departure from Old Forester’s classic mash bill of 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley. Instead, Old Forester 1924 is distilled from a mash of 79 percent corn, 11 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley.
That shift in mash bill also gives a clue as to the whiskey’s exact origin, as some astute Brown-Forman fans have pointed out online. The 79/11/10 recipe is the base for Early Times, a budget-friendly brand Brown-Forman sold to Sazerac in 2020. It’s also the mash bill for Brown-Forman’s premium King of Kentucky offering.
While the company is staying tight-lipped on specifics, it’s somewhat likely the juice for Old Forester 1924 was originally earmarked for Early Times and/or aged long enough to potentially end up in King of Kentucky. Whatever the exact case, Old Forester has indicated 1924 will be a limited annual release, so it certainly has enough stocks on hand to keep this 10-year expression flowing. (And in theory will continue to produce that mash bill.)
Let’s dive in and see how it tastes!
Old Forester 1924: Stats and Availability
Old Forester 1924 has a suggested retail price of $115. While 2024 is the first-ever release for the expression, the age statement and brand’s reputation have already pushed the bottle to a premium in some locations. I’ve seen it on shelves for around its MSRP and also as high as $300. Old Forester (and parent company Brown-Forman) aren’t giving specifics on release size and bottle count, but we know it’s an expression intended for annual distribution.
Old Forester 1924 Review
As with all of VinePair’s whiskey reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.
Nose
The nose leads with darkly roasted pecans, caramel, and saddle leather; it’s a different mashbill, but I’m already reminded of some of the better batches of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon I’ve tried. A bit more time brings out notes often associated with Brown-Forman products: bananas foster and freshly whipped cream. The aromas are at once both tannic and sweet without diving too far in either direction. It’s nosing appropriately and appealing for 100 proof. So far, so good.
A solid start warrants additional sniffs, and lighter scents start to traipse in. There’s significantly more fruit than I expected at the very beginning, with medicinal cherry, cooked pears, and stewed peaches leading the fray. Barbecue and smoked wood hit further back, with noticeable punctuations of mesquite, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a tiny bit black pepper.
And thus far, Old Forester 1924 is acting its age. This noses every bit a 10 year bourbon, and I wouldn’t be shocked if it contained significantly older barrels in the blend.
Can the taste stack up?
Taste
A surprisingly light sip throws a changeup to my taste buds. I was expecting an immediate hit of dark, rich, oaky sweetness, whereas the first taste is more muted and takes its time to unwind across the tongue. Light caramel begins at the tip of the tongue and transitions to sweet tobacco approaching the midpalate.
It’s a curious acclimation that is — thankfully — followed by more defined flavors on a second drink. That caramel darkens into cooked banana and crème brûlée. Toasted nuts appear alongside more cherry, brighter and less medicinal here than on the nose; it’s like diluted Luxardo Cherry Liqueur, the very dregs of it served over ice.
On a third (or fourth, or fifth) sip, those barbecue flavors come into focus, sweeter than spicy but with plenty of smokey wood, cinnamon, and pepper to go around. There’s almost no burn of ethanol at any point, the alcohol tempered as if enveloped by oak influence in every section of the mouth.
At 100 proof, this batched Old Forester release takes its time developing across the palate. It’s certainly not thin, but given the nose and abundant influence of a decade-plus in wood, the bourbon needs multiple sips to reveal its flavor range. It’s tasty; I just wish it had a bit more giddy-up in getting there.
Finish
The finish is medium in length and semi-dry, leaning back into the woody and sweet in lieu of fruit and other quadrants on the flavor wheel. A pleasant surprise: There’s more ginger here than at any other point throughout the experience. That adds a touch of depth where other spice influences drop off after the palate.
Old Forester 1924 Rating
92/100
Recap
Old Forester 1924 starts with a near-superlative nose, though the palate and finish don’t quite soar as high. Even a slightly snappier taste profile and more composed finish could elevate this Kentucky bourbon by several points.
Still, it’s a fascinating and welcome addition to the Old Forester lineup. One wonders if the overall quality may improve as the blending team gains experience from one annual release to the next. We’ll certainly be keeping tabs.
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