Brian’s Old Forester 1920 Bourbon Review
originally written on 11-May-2018 then updated 01-December-2019
OLD FORESTER 1920 BOURBON REVIEW:
Back in the spring of 2018, Old Forester 1920 was my introduction into higher ABV bourbon. At 115 proof, Brown-Forman’s 1920 can be had neat, but for my novice nose and palate, just a couple drops of distilled water helped me enjoy the whiskey. (Remember, water can be your friend.) Now with more experience and many other higher proof offerings drained from their bottles, water is no longer necessary as aromas and flavors are easier to discern. This is a wonderful juice and it is easy to see why Brown-Forman has made this Whiskey Row offering a regular in their lineup.
OLD FORESTER 1920 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: 57.5% (115 Proof)
No batch or bottle number identifiers
Price: $59.95 USD in Idaho
Learn more at https://brown-forman.com/
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the re-evaluation, I shared the juice neat from Glencairn glasses with my daughter and fellow Whiskey for the Ages reviewer Hannah.
Check out her review for this bourbon here!
NOSE:
When the cork is pulled, the luscious aroma of brown sugar wafts from the bottle as the dram is poured. When brought to the nose, I felt a quick burn of ethanol, but nothing to cause concern. Intense nosing brings in a potpourri of fruit blossoms followed by ripe blueberry fruit leather. The spices are few: nutmeg and white pepper. Sweetness comes from the bakery: pecan pie, chocolate cream and rich vanilla, with a little vanilla taffy, brown sugar and a nutty chocolate covered toffee thrown in for good measure. But the dram is not finished … prolonged nosing brings in sensations of old books, toasted pecans and the nice woody aroma of fresh piled seasoned oak sawdust as the juice is enjoyed. Old Forester 1920 treats the nose to a solid well blended bourbon.
PALATE:
The first sip has a gentle bite with an initial burn which quickly subsides to lingering warmth and there’s the sensation of ripe blueberries as well. As on the nose the spices are few, but the black pepper and rye are ever-present. The sweetness of rich vanilla, maple syrup and dark molasses are there, but never in the forefront. Old Forester 1920 is an earthy and leathery bourbon with hints of toasted pecans and there is plenty of sweet, fresh cut, seasoned old oak to entertain the mouth.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Old Forester 1920 is a big, solid and well blended full-on bourbon. It is viscous and oily. I feel as though it can be pushed around as it tickles the tongue. The dark old oak colored liquid heavily coats the inside of the Glencairn, then breaks into a well defined inverted crown before it gives way to long clinging legs.
FINISH:
The finish is exceptionally long and lingers as the throat tickles and warms after each sip and the mouth salivates as anticipation builds for the next. When I swallow the liquid, my senses pick up traces of dried fig and mango along with black pepper, rye and a pleasant brininess. Earthy and deep leather linger in the empty glass as old oak fades away.
MY RATING: 90/100
Will I seek out this whiskey in the future? Yes
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 90/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Old Forester.
WHISKEY TRAITS AND FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:
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