Old Forester Orange Label Review Archives

Elora’s Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon Review

Posted on 04-April-202304-April-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Elora’s Old Forester 100 Proof Review Summary

S01E02 Podcast Review recorded 11-March-2023
Full Review on 14-March-2023

While not heavy on oak or nutty flavors, Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon is very sweet, both in the nose and palate. Sugars, fruits, and earthy flavors pleasantly dominate the drink.

OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF VITAL STATS:

– Category: Kentucky Bourbon
– Region: Louisville, KY, USA
– Distillery: Brown-Forman
– DSP#: KY-414
– Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
– Barrel Char: #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– Age: nas
– Filtration: Chill-filtered
– ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
– NABCA CSC#: 16396
– No batch or bottle number identifiers
– Size: 750 ML
– Price: $25.95 (Idaho, Spring 2023)

Learn more at Old Forester Products.

ENJOYMENT METHOD

I enjoyed this bourbon neat with my father and sister while listening to choral arrangements of popular songs.

Check out Brian’s review here and Hannah’s review here!

AROMA

There is a slight burn when smelling this, which is surprising to me because I would expect the burn to come from a higher proof bourbon or rye. There are many sweet notes that come with the heat, such as vanilla, brown sugar, light caramel, and a candy flavor—particularly the flavor of a purple skittle. Fruits emerge as well, like maraschino cherries, candied oranges, and fruit punch. I am unable to get any nutty tones, but I can get both spices and earthy ones. Nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, leather, roses, and sweet grasses are evident. As for baked goods, I can get hints of cherry turnovers, graham crackers, smoked marshmallows, and wheat bread. Overall, I can guess that this is going to be both a sweet and fruity bourbon—very exciting!

TASTE

Feel: In the mouth, it feels much more like water than other bourbons that I have; there is not much viscosity with this one. However, it settles very nicely in the chest and the warmth has a long-lasting bloom.
Balance: The bourbon is both fruit and earth-heavy. The flavors blend nicely with one another, but it doesn’t have a typical oak foundation. The sweet tones from the aroma come through faintly, but you have to hunt for them.
Visual: The color is somewhere between auburn and flame. There is a faint outline of a crown with long, skinny legs dripping down from it.

Upon first tasting this, I didn’t get the sweet notes like I was expecting. Instead, I got many more earthy notes and an overwhelming bread flavor, particularly that of wheat. Grass not only became a more predominant flavor, but it also brought a hint of pine. There were also hints of sweetened browned butter and dark caramel. After tasting it for a while longer I got some more of the sweet tones that I got in the aroma, like toasted marshmallows, candied oranges, and cherry turnovers.

FINISH

The feeling in the chest lingers for a long time and leaves a pleasant warmth in its wake. As for the taste, I believe it has a long finish as well. It blends from earthy tones to sweet ones, and the sweetness lingers far longer than the earth. Cherry pastries, caramel, and bread are the lasting flavors from this bourbon.

SONG CHOICE

“Yellow” by Coldplay¹
Cello Suite No. 1 – “Prelude” by Johann Sebastian Bach²

This bourbon, to me, is very calming and soothing, and therefore, I chose “Yellow” by Coldplay and J.S. Bach’s “Prelude” from his Cello Suite No. 1. The lyrics of “Yellow” encourage me to find the light in my dark moments, while the “Prelude” helps to ground my chaotic emotions with its deep and pleasant chord progressions.

WORTH THE PRICE?

For a price around $25.95? Absolutely! This is another great bourbon to go for, especially when on a budget.

GET IT AGAIN?

I would most certainly get Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon again. I highly enjoyed this, and wouldn’t hesitate to buy it if I saw it on the shelf.

RATING: 92%

To access other whiskies from this brand, click Old Forester.

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Elora’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

ELORA’S OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF CITATIONS

¹Coldplay, “Yellow”, May 30, 2011, Coldplay – Yellow (Official Video), [Video], Album: Parachutes
²Yo-Yo-Ma, Cello Suite No. 1 “Prelude”, January 14, 2019, Yo-Yo Ma – Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Prélude (Official Video), [Video], Johann Sebastian Bach

Old Forester 100 Proof Review

Posted on 04-April-202304-April-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Hannah’s Old Forester 100 Proof Review

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Revisiting this one shortly after recording our first Podcast Review “We Pick”, Old Forester 100 Proof still sits as a great bourbon at a great value.

VITALS:

– Made In: Kentucky, USA
– Distiller: Brown-Forman Distillery
– Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
– Age: nas
– Mash Bill: Corn=72%; Rye=18%; Malted Barley=10%
– Casks: Char #4
– Barrel Entry Proof: 125
– ABV: 50% (100 proof)
– Price: $29.95 USD in Idaho in 2023

For more information, visit oldforester.com

ENJOYMENT METHOD:

I enjoyed this drink originally on our podcast, Whiskey for the Ages, and am now revisiting it again, in a Glencairn. I am also with father and editor, Brian, and my sister, Elora for this tasting.

Check out Brian’s review here and Elora’s here!

SETTING:

This bourbon is a diamond in the rough – great taste, great value, great availability. It certainly brings out a wonderment in me, given what I do know about the market and what the bourbon unicorns are. This pour makes me want to reach for a favorite childhood toy – putting together colorful blocks our of the pure joy of simplicity and not having to think hard to have a good time. No tricks, just happiness.

Photo by Mourizal Zativa on Unsplash

NOSE:

This nose offers floral notes to mix with a surprising wheat grain element, even without wheat being a part of the mash bill for this bourbon. Customary to Old Forester products, there are also the classic dark fruits like cherry and fig, mixing with a dark vanilla custard/pudding. The vanilla provides the majority of sugary sweetness, though a simple syrup/almost light caramel are also detected. Not much in the way of spice, except for some of standard baking ones like cinnamon and nutmeg. Both are very subtle however underneath all of these other aromas.

PALATE:

– Mouth Feel: Slightly more watery than I was expecting, and it is this component that I’d say is the weakest component to this pour.
– Balance: Initially hotter than a 100 proof would seem and then it tapers into heavy fruits. I wouldn’t say that Old Forester 100 isn’t balanced, but there is a distinct threshold between each flavor profile.
– Visual: Tawny in color, the crown at first looks like it will separate into droplets, but they do eventually coagulate into a fine line of a crown without fast falling, long legs dropping back into the glass.

– Taste: The heat of this is quite shocking at the outset. I have had plenty of very high proof bourbons before that come across the palate softer than this does on that first sip. Despite the shock, I found myself pleasantly surprised on the very first sip during our podcast, and I found myself anxiously looking forward to it again tonight on the second pour. Black pepper blooms, leading the charge of the heat hit. I do think that the alcohol tastes stronger than 100 proof in the glass, but I think the majority of the heat is from this black pepper.

The spice quickly gives way to the heavy fruits of the nose – cherry and fig abound, as if the fruit juice itself were sitting on the palate. These both descend into more of a classic vanilla taste, as opposed to the custard found on the nose.

A Kentucky chew does provoke the alcohol, but not as much as I was ready for. I believe it could be related to the watery mouth feel that the alcohol just cannot find the grip to sting hard. Instead, dried fruit leather comes out and makes the whole palate feel warm.

FINISH:

– Lasting Power: Long. During our first tasting, I didn’t want to commit a “Long” finish, but tonight on this second tasting, I am willing to concede. The warmth is dominant aspect of this bourbon that just stays, and stays, and stays. The warmth settles into the chest and radiates out.
– Between Sips: There isn’t a great deal of flavor in the pause between sips, but what is there, is slightly bready.

– No More: This stays consistent as I go through the glass, which I am quite grateful for. This continues to impress and I love that I know what I am getting on each sip.

The empty Glencairn is a powerful and spiced oak. It’s so fresh and new, it’s as if the power saw is actually still in the process of powering down after cutting the staves to their measurements.

WORTH THE PRICE?

Absolutely. At $30, this is almost cheap by today’s (2023) bourbon standards. This is a great bourbon to have to introduce to friends who are new to bourbon, and it’s a great value bourbon to keep in your own bunker too. It feels almost like a dirty secret, knowing how good it is behind that deceptive cheap price tag.

OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF REVIEW RATING: 91/100

Click to see Hannah’s rating process

Click 91/100 to access other whiskies with this rating.
To access other whiskies from this brand, click Old Forester.

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Hannah’s Whiskey Reviews
Whiskey Reviews

Old Forester 100 Proof

Posted on 04-April-202304-April-2023 by whiskeyfortheages

Brian’s Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon Review:

S01E02 Podcast Review 11-March-2023
Full Review completed on 14-March-2023

OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF BOURBON REVIEW:

Sometimes known as Old Forester Signature or even Orange Label, Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon (OF100) has a sweet floral aroma with notes of faint apples, sweet cherries, and vanilla custard. Moreover, the first taste is spicy, and I sense sweetcorn, cherries and cinnamon, then pick up nutmeg, bread pudding, and caramel. Additionally, there are faint traces of oak and smoky sweetness in its clean but thin mouthfeel, and the medium-long finish follows the nose and palate. Overall, this pleasant pour earns a “Recommendation” from me.

OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF VITAL STATS:

Category: Kentucky Bourbon
Region: Louisville, KY, USA
Distillery: Brown-Forman
DSP #: KY-414
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Barrel Char: #4
Barrel entry proof: 125
Age: nas
Filtration: Chill-filtered
ABV: 50% (100 Proof)
NABCA CSC #: 16396
Size: 750ML
Price: $25.95 MSRP (Idaho, Spring 2023)
No batch or bottle number identifiers

To learn more, visit Old Forester Products.

ENJOYMENT METHOD FOR THE REVIEW:

To enjoy and evaluate this bourbon, alternate pours, equaling about two ounces, were added into three Glencairns. My daughters and I enjoyed the bourbon neat during the S01E02 podcast, and again several days later while completing our full reviews.

Click Hannah’s Review and Elora’s Review to learn their thoughts!

OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF NOSE:

When nosing, Old Forester 100 Proof (OF100) offers a delightful sweetness that is free from any discernible alcohol burn. Its aroma is reminiscent of sweet flowers, akin to a rose garden in full bloom. When my nose acclimates, I detect subtle notes of tart apples and freshly picked cherries, accompanied by allspice and clove. The baking spices gradually intensify and reveal hints of powdered ginger and nutmeg, which blend into a creamy vanilla custard pudding drizzled with simple syrup. As sweet aromas build, warm toasted marshmallows and light caramel waft from the glass. Surprisingly and despite being aged in oak, there was no detectable wood scent. Instead, I pick up an earthy quality of damp potting soil.

OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF PALATE:

OF100 delivers an initial burst of heat which fades quickly, leaving behind notes of freshly shucked sweetcorn. My taste buds then recall the sweet floral notes sensed on the nose before linking flavors of faint apple slices and dried Maraschino cherries rolled in old cinnamon. With additional sipping, a blend of bakery spices, including nutmeg and rye, emerged, along with the taste of yeasty bread pudding. The confection seems to be topped with whipped cream infused with Maraschino juice, rich vanilla and a drizzle of sweet caramel. I also detect honey-coated granola notes, which offer a sensation of nutty toffee.

And in each mouthful, there is a hint of faint oak, which seamlessly blends into the hazy smoky sweetness of dying campfire embers.

Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
While leaning towards fruit and sweetness, OF100 is nicely balanced. Each sip is clean, inviting, and rich even though the mouthfeel is quite thin. After each sip, the liquid lingers in long, thick clinging legs then break guiding large tears back to the carrot colored pool. This is not a complex bourbon, yet it is a nice pour just the same. Although not a complex bourbon, it is still a great pour.

OLD FORESTER 100 PROOF FINISH:

Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon has a medium-long finish which leaves a warm sensation in the back of the palate, throat, and esophagus. The finish is faintly floral with notes of white pepper and a refreshing sweetness.

There are hints of seasoned oak which linger which puts forth a subtle woody aftertaste. When the last drops are gone, the empty Glencairn suggests a pleasant memory of the pour.

MY RATING 87/100

Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
_{Click to read Brian’s scoring process.}

Click 87/100 to access other whiskies with this score.
To access other reviews from this brand, click Old Forester.

WHISKEY TRAITS, FLAVOR NOTES AND PROFILE GRAPH:

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