Brian’s Old Forester 1870 Bourbon Review:
reviewed 14-September-2021
OLD FORESTER 1870 BOURBON REVIEW:
Old Forester 1870 is another fine bourbon in the Brown-Forman lineup. From the first waft to the final sip, 1870 represents what I expect from any Old Forester product. Faint notes of fruit and spice on the nose to its sweet woodiness on the palate and finish, this bourbon should earn a spot in anyone’s rotation.
OLD FORESTER 1870 BOURBON VITAL STATS:
Category: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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: 46.5% (93 Proof)
Label Identifier: “Original Batch”
NABCA* Control State Code: 20369
Purchase Price: $44.95 USD (2021 – Idaho)
In 1870 George Garvin Brown created Old Forester on Louisville, KY’s, famous Whiskey Row. In honor of that milestone year in bourbon history, we have crafted a tribute – Old Forester 1870 Original Batch – the first expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series.
— Old Forester
Click Old Forester 1870 Original Batch to learn more.
*NABCA – National Alcohol Beverage Control Association Control State Code
ENJOYMENT METHOD:
For the evaluation, alternate amounts, equaling about 4 ounces, were poured into Glencairns. 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 1870 BOURBON NOSE:
The first waft of Old Forester 1870 is dry with little if any burn. I sense sherried wine, fruit tree blossoms on the wind, roasted corn and dry grain along with sweet cherries, apricots, dried dark fruits, and raisins. Just a few wafts in and I’m salivating. 1870’s spices are faint but come through as cinnamon, ginger, white pepper, and rye. And in some nosings there is faint rye bread and subdued notes of buttery graham cracker pie crust. Its sweetness is candy-like: vanilla taffy, butterscotch and even stale marshmallows left in the bag too long. I get buttery caramelized sugar drizzled over toasted almonds as well. Best of all, 1870 has the traditional Old Forester nose as simple dry old oak and gently toasted wood fade in and out of each waft.
OLD FORESTER 1870 BOURBON PALATE:
When Old Forester 1870 is first sipped, there is a dry quick burn, but the whiskey is easy to hold. Second and subsequent sips bring fruit tree blossoms, roasted corn and a dark fruit mixture of currants and raisins. Then come spices of powdered ginger, pepper, and rye and sweets of bittersweet chocolate chips, hard candy, marshmallows, and caramelized sugar. There is a slight medicinal taste but it is sweet and not at all offensive as dry old oak, toasted wood and smoky sweet barrel char round out each mouthful. 1870 is another good bourbon from Brown-Forman.
Balance, Body, Feel and Look:
Old Forester 1870 is well blended and feels silky in my mouth. After each sip, a bourbon curtain is drawn away quickly leaving behind fat clinging legs to transport the liquid to the tawny pool. Then, only a few drops remain, and there is no visible crown in the Glencairn whatsoever.
OLD FORESTER 1870 BOURBON FINISH:
Old Forester 1870 offers a short to medium warm and gentle finish. I get fleeting notes of currants with a touch of white pepper and marshmallows melted over toasted almonds. 1870 fades away on old and dry toasted oak planks with pleasant smoky sweet barrel char. This would be good with S’mores while sitting around a campfire as it’s leatheriness can be drawn from the empty Glencairn.
MY RATING: 87/100
Will I buy this whiskey again? YES
The Old Forester products I’ve enjoyed have been consistently good to great. I will be keeping Old Forester 1870 on my shelf for many future pours.
Click to read Brian’s scoring process.
Click 87/100 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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