Old Forester 1897 Bourbon Archives – Whiskey for the Ages

Hannah’s Old Forester 1897 Bourbon Review

Original review written September 8, 2020

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Old Forester 1897 Bourbon Review: I think the nose is fantastic, with lots of dark richness. The palate is well-blended with cherries and an overall dryness emerging the most. It’s slightly flat for me, but otherwise a good offering. 88/100

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Brown-Forman Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Bottled in Bond
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=72%; Rye=18%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $49.95 USD in Idaho

Visit brown-forman.com for more information

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed the juice neat in a Glencairn glass with father and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer, Brian.

Check out his review for this bourbon here!

SETTING:

With its dry nature, I imagine sipping 1897 on a walking path in autumn wood, shrouded with mist. The crashing echoes of a waterfall are left in one’s ears, leaving the mind empty of all but a soothing warmth, despite being surrounded by a slight chill.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

NOSE:

Without even bringing this to my nose, the aroma is strong, but very pleasant. When I do take a draw, dried fruit, black pepper, cinnamon, barrel char, and brown sugar come through intensely. Somehow, they blend well together while remaining distinct.

This offers the whole gamut of flavor profiles, with very little alcohol burn to speak of. As a whole, this nose is REALLY warm and rich from flavor and texture. Not crazy complex, but this is very inviting with its darkness.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Pretty viscous and oily. I expected a bit more grit here.
– Balance: Really well-blended, with fruit barely winning out.
– Visual: Terracotta pot in color, with clinging droplets on short legs falling from an ill-defined crown.

– Taste: The first several sips provide a very blended flavor – so much so, it’s hard to distinguish a dominating flavor. Subsequent sips coax out the class Brown-Forman cherry, and a bit of cinnamon, and a light brown sugar. I have to hunt for them a bit, but they are there. Touch of vanilla, but I get the sense there is a nut quality also, but I’m struggling to place it.

There still is very little alcohol burn to speak of, but there remains a warming sensation all the same. The oak from the barrel is present, but it conveys a sweetness as opposed to a spiciness or smokiness.

It’s strange, there’s also an herbal element that lifts this, but I’m unsure of what it could be. Definitely subtle. I know I’ve already said it, but this is so well-blended, I’m struggling a lot of pick specific flavors.

A Kentucky chew wakes up a dusty corn and intensifies the cherry, and offers a smidge of rye.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. My entire mouth is quite warm and I have flavor clinging to my tongue.
– Between Sips: Red delicious apple, corn and a touch of grass linger between sips. It’s certainly not the dark flavors I would have expected to find here.

– No More: Getting further into the glass, I find burnt marshmallow skin (see my dad’s review also), but the cherry is still strong. There’s also a dried element that emerges which alters the texture a little to become more enjoyable.

The empty Glencairn is a sweet oak with almost a sugar glaze on top. Overall, and enjoyable pour!

WORTH THE PRICE?

At approximately $50, I think honestly, there are better Old Forester products out there (e.g. Old Forester 1920) for just a little more. If you prefer a viscous and really well-blended product, 1897 is worth it, but I like a bit more grit in my bourbon. (I also really like to be able to distinguish flavors, but I think that may just be a pride thing.)

RATING: 88/100

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Brian’s Old Forester 1897 Bourbon Review:

08-September-2020

OLD FORESTER 1897 BOTTLED-IN-BOND BOURBON REVIEW:

Old Forester 1897 Bourbon is a dark whiskey. From its aromas and flavors to its finish, all the typical bourbon traits are masked in well blended depth. Sure there are traces of signature Brown-Forman cherry notes, but 1897 is subtle, and yet so much more. From the color, aroma and taste and on to the finish, the barrel has clearly influenced this bourbon. Read on for my complete review of this satisfying pour.

OLD FORESTER 1897 BOTTLED-IN-BOND BOURBON VITAL STATS:

Category: Straight Bourbon
Region: Kentucky, USA
Company: Brown-Forman
Distillery: Old Forester Distillery / Brown-Forman Distillers
Mash Bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: nas
ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
No batch or bottle number identifiers
Purchase Price: $49.95 USD (2020 – Idaho)

Learn more at https://brown-forman.com/.

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

For the evaluation, alternate amounts, equaling about 4 ounces, were poured into Glencairns from a newly opened bottle. The bourbon was then enjoyed neat with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.

Check out her review for this bourbon here!

OLD FORESTER 1897 NOSE:

Old Forester 1897 Bourbon has a strong, aromatic nose one can smell many fine aromas as soon as the cork is popped. Even from two feet away, bourbony warm roasted corn and dry dusty grains drift from the glass. When brought to my nose, the faint aroma of tobacco blends with notes of apple. And the Brown-Forman cherry essense I’ve come to expect from the distillery’s offerings is present as well. But dark aromas prevail too. Deep allspice, cinnamon, cloves and rye blend with the juice of figs, dark chocolate and a drop or two of rich vanilla. The entire mixture is nestled in a toffee-like burnt caramel, dark molasses and crushed roasted nuts. Continuing with the dark, there’s plenty of toasted dry old oak and barrel char which fades to musty leather. This bourbon makes me salavate.

OLD FORESTER 1897 PALATE:

The first sip has a subtle bite and is dry and warm. As on the nose, dusty grain, faint tobacco notes and Brown-Forman cherry fruit leather treats the tongue. I am not a cigar smoker, but could see how a nice stick could be enjoyed. When I hold a good sip in my mouth for a prolonged period, smoked graham cracker, rich burnt vanilla, burnt marshmallow skin and caramel make for wonderful treat. While I wouldn’t call 1897 a sweet bourbon, the same dark molasses, toffee sensed on the nose with some bitter walnut, pass to the palate. Old Forester 1897 Bourbon is not overly spicy yet cloves, green pepper and rye dance on the tongue. As I finish each sip, seasoned, dry old oak and smokey, sweet barrel char fade comfortably away.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
This bourbon is solid and soft, smooth and well blended. Clinging droplets suspend from an ill-defined crown. As I roll the glass to coat with liquid, widely spaced legs form, returning the liquid to the terracotta colored pool of the Glencairn.

OLD FORESTER 1897 FINISH:

Old Forester 1897 Bottle-in-Bond Bourbon finishes long, dry and warm with a pleasant herbalness, and elements of dusty corn and grain. Its fruits of fig and the ever-present Brown-Forman cherry peak in and out of seasoned dry old oak and leather. And as I sip the last drops, the soft aroma of old oak planks drying in a warehouse float from the empty Glencairn.

MY OLD FORESTER 1897 RATING: 88/100

Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? YES
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 88/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Old Forester.

OLD FORESTER 1897 TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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