The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
BourbonIssue 116

Old Forester Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

Old Forester · Brown-Forman Distillery

$5090 proofNASLouisville, Kentucky, USA
Old Forester's single barrel program quietly delivers one of the best value propositions in Kentucky. Each barrel pick carries the distillery's signature fruit-forward character while offering enough variation to make repeat purchases interesting. A workhorse bourbon that punches cleanly above its price.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Opens with ripe cherry and butterscotch, followed by toasted oak and a ribbon of dark chocolate. A faint floral note lingers underneath, grounding the sweetness.

Palate

Rich caramel and baked apple lead into waves of vanilla bean and brown spice. Midpalate delivers charred oak with a satisfying tannic grip that keeps things structured.

Finish

Medium-long, with lingering butterscotch, a hint of leather, and gentle warmth. The oak stays present without turning bitter.

Specifications
Mash Bill
72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Barrel Type
New charred American oak
Bottled in Bond
No
Single Barrel
Yes
Wheated
No
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

The Broken Seal — 2 oz Old Forester Single Barrel · 0.75 oz sweet vermouth · 0.25 oz Cherry Heering · 2 dashes Angostura bitters · Stir over ice, strain into a coupe, garnish with a brandied cherry.

Food Pairing

The caramelized bark on smoked pork belly burnt ends mirrors the bourbon's charred oak and butterscotch, while the meat's fat content tempers the tannic grip. Serve with a mustard-vinegar slaw for acidity.

The Story

Selected from Brown-Forman's heat-cycled Louisville rickhouses, each barrel reflects the singular character of its warehouse position — a tradition that stretches back to George Garvin Brown's founding in 1870.

Train These Aromas
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