1910, a fire on the bottling line halted production of Old Forester. Of note is that I hadnt tried either the 10 or 20 for a while and my palate has probably changed some. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Its notable that one of the preeminent double-barreled bourbons that uses new oak for both is Woodford Reserves Double Oaked. Its jumping around on my palate going on the roof tickling it all around. Mature whisky ready to be bottled, instead was stored in a secondary barrel. But its far from one-dimensional, with a rich, complex sweetness leavening the spice. These flavors linger for an unusually long time. The char time is implied to be over that of the #4 "alligator char" that is the usual maximum, which is more than double what the typical Old Forester barrel gets. The first blend is a 2:1 of the 1910 to 1920, which I call the 1913. Old Forester 1920 boasts a higher alcohol proof making it bolder, richer, and more flavorful than Old Forester 1910. In early 2019, I found my first bottle of Old Forester 1910 as they suddenly hit the shelves and then just as suddenly sold out and disappeared for over half a year when the inventory ran out. Lets see if all that history and the extra proof make a difference in this Old Forester 1920 review. With so many similarities, these two are bound to be similar, but which one is better? We thank them for allowing us to review it with no strings attached. There are no sponsors, no media companies, and no nonsense. Answered (2023 Updated), Angels Envy Bourbon Bottle Review (2023 Edition), How To Open A Tequila Bottle: Full Guide (2023 Updated), 7 Best Whiskeys For A Toothache (2023 Updated), Don Julio Primavera Tequila Review & Tasting Notes (2023), https://www.thespruceeats.com/effect-of-aging-on-liquor-759921. While they have their fair share of similarities on mash bills, ownership, and distillery, the two bourbons are more different than similar, especially on their tasting notes. Taste Smooth, well rounded mingling of sweet oatmeal raisin cookie and milk chocolate leading into caramel corn and evolving spice. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. While its tempting to pay $5 more for Old Forester 1920, youd also be buying a totally different tasting product and missing out on the experience Old Forester 1910 delivers in its own right. Due to the fire, the decision was made to dump mature whisky ready to be bottled into a secondary barrel for holding. But the smoky charred oak and sweet toasted oak are immediately recognizable. 2023 Brown-Forman Distillers. The second barrel interaction really brings out the sweet, syrupy dessert flavors. Old Forester 1920 palate: "Completely different approach. These are two different animals so let's talk about how they compare and which one you shou. It is 115 proof and reminiscent of the style of bourbon distilled by the brand during the prohibition era. Yes, Old Forester 1910 Old Fine whisky is sweeter than 1920. We do not sell your personal information. On October 22nd, 1910 the Old Forester Bottling line came to a halt as the result of a fire. Hitting just a little bit of spice but its really concentrated. While the two share an almost similar production process, they have big differences in the aging process because 1910 Old Fine Whisky undergoes second barreling. 1910 is very similar in look to the 1920 bottle released . Press J to jump to the feed. Its not in feel like youre licking a barrel stave territory, but start to finish, its definitely an oakier bourbon than most. Want to join the Bourbinsane family and SUPPORT THE CHANNEL!?! Oaky and lightly sweet. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! OLD FORESTER is a registered trademark. Tart apple crispness gives way to a long smoky finish full of toasted marshmallow, chocolate and graham cracker sweetness. It Came Down to Rare Breed vs. Old Forester 1920: Which One Came Out on Top? I knew ahead of time that I liked the 1910 more than the 1920 because the latter tastes a bit medicinal and harsh to me (makes a killer old fashioned, though), so I biased the . 1920 was released earlier than 1910. AMERICAS FIRST BOTTLED BOURBON is a trademark. So if you want high-ABV Old Forester, this is really your main option. The palate is sickly sweet with a heavy layer of burnt caramel and vanilla. Theres also cinnamon spice, grenadine syrup, cacao nibs and a hint of banana Laffy Taffy. I do really want to try it though. Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky is a woody and spicy double-barreled bourbon. It was crafted to pay homage to the Prohibition and represent the rich flavor and vintage barrel strength. 38,678 views Aug 26, 2021 1.6K Dislike Share Bourbon Junkies 93.6K subscribers We compare the new Old. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 43-57.5% Alc./Vol., Old Forester Mint Julep Cocktail, 30% Alc./Vol. All rights reserved. You must be 21 or over to enter this website. New vs. Old Label! Contact at [emailprotected] or learn more about us here. Complicating matters, there was a vat of mature whisky waiting to be bottled. The Whiskey Row series is intended for sipping, and this is no exception. It was saved as the last expression in the Whiskey Row series and it came after the highly adored Old Forester 1920. I did use glencairns for the tasting. 1910 Old Fine Whiskey is the fourth and final expression of the Whiskey Row Series, presented at 93 proof. But its rewarding as well: Get past the oak and spice, and youll find layers of flavor to savor and enjoy. Join in the advent calendar and sip along with me all December long. Flavors: mostly charred oak with a bit of astringency, some caramel. Im proudly Asian American and can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, and some Japanese. 2. I get this would be a lot better top to bottom without it, and I dont know why its there every single time. Entering the second barrel at a low 100 proof allows more of the sweet wood sugars to dissolve into the whiskey. Could be a local issuejust asking because I also enjoy 1910 more than 1920, personally. All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners. While oak played a role in the nose and palate, oak is front and center in the finish. Old Forester 1920 and 1910 is the brands way to offer consumers the taste of their way through their history. I saw the glasses and thought wow that's a novel idea. Based on Drizly online, a bottle of Old Forester 1910 costs around $59.99, while a bottle of Old Forester 1920 is roughly $64.99. Those are both excellent but are apples and oranges. If somebody was looking at these two bottles in a store, I think most would pick up the Old Forester 1910 because of the bottle shape and label are more appealing compared to the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. MSRP $55. Today mimicking this historic bottling, this unique expression of Old Forester has undergone a second barreling, granting it exceptional character, a smooth and sweet flavor and a clean, crisp finish. The tannins are beautifully balanced with seasoned oak and Swishers Sweets cigar tobacco. Dark caramel coats layers of malt nuttiness and sweet graham cracker all warmed by green peppercorn and coriander spice brightened with a hint of cedar. 1920 Prohibition Style is our toast to the innovative and enduring spirit of Old Forester. Theres a noticeable minty corn mash taste from the rye, with a little nuttiness. Join us as we put Old Forester 1910 up against Old Forester 1920. However dont let that fool you. It was so different from standard Old Forester that a special label and name were created for it: Old Fine Whisky [sic].. The $41-$60 taste-off wrapped up with the winners from both legs staring each other down in a taste-off. ABV: 46.5%. Just a touch of banana., Rare Breed palate: Rare Breed is bringing it tonight. The $5 difference between the two bourbons is justifiable because Old Forester 1920 is bolder, richer, and boasts a higher alcohol content. The chart can't fully capture it all, but this direct comparison shows that Knob Creek Single Barrel is the superior bourbon for me. Its a nice deviation from other double barreled products on the market and one that finds a nice place in the Whiskey Row series lineup.OId Forester 1910 had high expectations to live up to. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our Top 10 Most Memorable Whiskies of 2022 is now, These Experimental Rye Whiskey's from @smokewagonw, Like this song? All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners. If youre shopping on Amazon for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, the holidays, or any other occasion, support The Whiskey Shelf by shopping through my affiliate link Shop Amazon. Tony Sachs is a writer based in New York City who has covered cocktails and spirits since 2007. I live in a little mountain town and all Ive seen is 1897 (good) and 1920 (very good). Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is generally a delicious bourbon with a lot of character, but it isnt quite complex or interesting enough to receive a Top Shelf rating. That said, the generally mellowish alcohol allows me the let the whiskey settle in my mouth so I can explore it further without roasting my entire mouth. Just extremely warm, inviting, and delicious. For sure they are easily distinguishable, but the blends vs the 1910 comprised the meat of the test for me. Cask new charred American oak; re-casked in very heavily charred new American oak, Awards 93 points, Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Mature Old Forester enters a second barrel at 100 proof, just as it did in 1910, said Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan. But the two whiskeys arent identical;1910 is re-casked in a much more heavily charred barrel, which gives it a more pronounced dry spiciness. Flavors: toasted oak, thick caramel, baking spices; a long, rich finish of toffee and toasted oak. That is showing a lot of action on the palate., Old Forester 1920 palate: Completely different approach. Each successive sip teases out more sweetness under the char: first honey, then dark berries and caramel, and finally a touch of overripe banana, but the wood is the star of this show. It has more warmth but will not burn your throat and is enjoyable to consume. But the finish isnt all just sweets and oak, theres also sweet mint and wet tobacco that round out the lingering flavors. All rights reserved. Old Forester 1910 may be a little intense for whiskey drinkers used to sweeter, mellower bourbons. Why you should go: It's a four-course dinner with three paired cocktails and four Whisky tastings, including Old Forester 1870 Original Batch, Old Forester 1897 Bottled In Bond, Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style. The 115 proof expression represents a barrel sample that company president Owsley Brown I would have batched at the beginning of Prohibition.. Assuming that Old Forester and Woodford Reserve use the same mashbill, there are really only subtle differences in what makes these two different. Theres also rich caramel and sweet oak. The nose is very hot at first, spewing doughy alcohol and musty corn that is nearly impossible to get past for a while. To find out more about responsible consumption, visit Responsibility.org and OurThinkingAboutDrinking.com, This site uses Cookies. Theres a delicious scent much like fresh baked chocolate muffins with a pat of melted butter on top. After initial maturation in new oak barrels, Old Forester 1910 is dumped in heavily charred, lightly toasted barrels for second maturation, which is quite noticeable in tasting notes. Origin Wheated Bottled in Bond Bourbon. Most people here seem to love the 1920. The Old Forester barrels are charred practically to the point of incineration (Level 4+ it may be referred to as) whereas the Woodford Reserve Double Oaked barrels are given a long and thorough toasting treatment before receiving the equivalent of a Level 2 char. Knob Creek Single Barrel and Old Forester 1920 are very good yet different bourbons. But such fine dining in the decade between 1910 and 1919 was the exception rather than the rule . The tastes are similar, yet distinct enough between the two that you could justify why you like one over the other, but for me the Woodford wins todays battle. For 13 years, the production, transport and sale of alcohol was strictly prohibited. But its the Woodford that I found more satisfying, albeit by a small margin. BrMate NOSR, Double-Wall Stainless Steel Whiskey Nosing Glass 7oz (Matte Black). These flavors dominate so much and are so sweet, that the charred oak in the background is hard to recognize. 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