Drink Review : Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon

November 21, 2020
2 mins read

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A bottle of Old Forester Classic 86 Proof bourbon, the recipe of which is in keeping with the style of when it was first introduced by George Garvin Brown in 1870. High in rye content, this is full bodied and rich.

Old Forester 86 Proof Review:

Appearance: Amber with an oily sheen.

Amber with an oily sheen. ABV: 86.4%

Body: Full bodied, rich, oily mouthfeel with very distinct “old forester” characteristics.

Full bodied, rich, oily mouthfeel with very distinct “old forester” characteristics.

Aroma: Oak is very prevalent with a strong barrel character and hints of toasted oak, raisins, cherry wood, vanilla and light sweet spices.

Oak is very prevalent with a strong barrel character and hints of toasted oak, raisins, cherry wood, vanilla and light sweet spices. Taste: Subtle tobacco, oak and a light sweet spicyness from the rye. There’s also a touch of anise and vanilla. This bourbon is young. It’s a bit reminiscent of classic corn whiskey.

Subtle tobacco, oak and a light sweet spicyness from the rye. There’s also a touch of anise and vanilla. This bourbon is young. It’s a bit reminiscent of classic corn whiskey.

Old Forester 86 Proof Review:

A really interesting offering from Old Forester.A very unique bourbon indeed. The balance of the flavors is good, although not too complex. As someone who doesn’t usually lean towards column running whiskies, I’m impressed with the bottle design with the tree. Seems like the theme is trees, not buildings.

This is really a unique bourbon. The dark oak aging lends to it’s “old forester” character. It’s not overly complex and it seems to be fairly young. If you are not a bourbon drinker though, you might not enjoy this one. It is different.

Fresh and neat, this uncut product looks like typical young, square-cornered Old Forester.

Old Forester 86 Proof Review:

It has a pleasant aroma but no real distinct and discernable characteristics, i.e., perfumey oak and spice cluster.

A good sense of oak is apparent, but this Bourbon is a little runny when compared to more mature product. It doesn’t have a lot of bite, but more of a soft “very young aging” quality.

Wet: Pretty similar, perhaps a little more “oaty”. It looks like the color is deepening in the glass, but the nose isn’t much different – maybe a little more pronounced on the oak and vanilla.

Pretty similar, perhaps a little more “oaty”. It looks like the color is deepening in the glass, but the nose isn’t much different – maybe a little more pronounced on the oak and vanilla.

1 oz. pour: The nose is a little bit more pronounced on the vanilla and oak. The taste is a little nice. The mouthfeel is pretty thin and flat, and the finish is short with a lingering vanilla that emphasizes the bourbon. I don’t get much tobacco in the finish at all.

The nose is a little bit more pronounced on the vanilla and oak. The taste is a little nice. The mouthfeel is pretty thin and flat, and the finish is short with a lingering vanilla that emphasizes the bourbon. I don’t get much tobacco in the finish at all.

Old Forester 86 Proof Review:

Then with a splash of water: The flavor has a nice mouthfeel to it but there’s not much in the way of an oakey character. It’s an active nose, but the oak flavour has a touch of vanilla. 

The nose is a touch less intense with the three distillations, but this product still smells like a young bourbon with some toasted oak after taste.

No real change in the nose but the spiciness of the rye is a little more noticeable coming through surface of the barrel this time. The oak is less evident if I had to choose the characteristics of this whiskey.

Old Forester 86 Proof Review:

Old Forester 86 Proof Bourbon is everything I have been looking for in a bourbon. I love the smell and the taste….The nose is full of tobacco, sherry, and oak. This is as good or better than many other bourbons I have tried. The taste is waxy/sour….like an old sherry casked bourbon, Old Forester really gives off an interesting profile….It is very similar to high grain whiskeys like Woodford Reserve and Jim Beam…

 

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