Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

I’ve never had the pleasure of tasting this specialty bottling of Old Forester so when I saw it at BevMo last week I had to swoop it up. They also had a 75th Anniversary Prohibition Repeal box set with a smaller bottle of what I assume is “commemorative” whiskey and a sweet Old Forester sniffy glass.

Again I find myself totally impressed by what is in my glass. This particular bottling was distilled in 1997 and bottled in 2009. So it is double digits in age, always a good thing. At 97 proof it is exceptionally smooth with a splash of cold water. Initial prognosis was vanilla, cranberries, bacon. It has a nice dark complexion and looks great in the glass. Sweet flavors left the glass smelling like some sort of bourbon infused cotton candy the next morning (typical of most older bourbons).

I really like it and will be drinking it only on special occasions… maybe birthdays (durpa durp). Over time I have found that if I drink the fancy bottles like they are every day pours I am sad that they are gone so fast. So I’ve been trying to make anything over $45 last a while.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Old Forester Signature = Tasty Bourbon

Man there is nothing I hate more than when I buy a cheap lower shelf liquor that turns out to be better than most most mid shelf and dare I say… even some top shelfers! I got this tasty treat for $18.99 and the regular Old Forester is $13.99! I chose the Signature bottle because I figured the 100+ proof would give me more bang for my buck (terrible way to look at things I know but times is hard).

It was like me and this bourbon have known each other all along. It is delicious! At first sip I thought it had a copper flavor thing going but it went away. Now all I taste is good bourbon juice. It’s more on the heavy mellow side with hints of vanilla and is very easy down the hatch. I like it with a splash of water.

I am most interested in trying some of the Old Forester specialty bottles, I am sure they must be great. Just remember that it is what’s on the inside of the bottle that counts.

Old Forester Signature