Categories: Bourbon News

Old Forester 117 Series ‘Warehouse I’ Review: A Limited 11-Year Bourbon

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BOTTLE DETAILS

DISTILLER: Old Forester Distillery
MASH BILL: 72% Corn | 18% Rye | 10% Malted Barley
AGE: 11 years
YEAR: 2024
PROOF: 95 (47.5% ABV)
MSRP: $64.99
BUY ONLINE: Sold out.

STEVE’S NOTES

SHARE WITH: All bourbon fans, especially Old Forester fans who continue to celebrate Brown-Forman’s decision a decade ago to let this brand be its best self.

WORTH THE PRICE: Doubtless, $65 is spendy for a 375ml–do the math, i.e. $130 for a full bottle. But since rarity and age rule in whiskey pricing, despite the cost, it’s uniqueness and indisputable deliciousness makes it arguably worth it.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bottle.

OVERALL: The official release date for this bottle was Dec. 5, the ninety-first anniversary of Repeal Day. Old Forester celebrated that landmark by selling this limited-edition expression, Warehouse I, a heat-cycled warehouse. These barrels, which were filled in 2013, were chosen exclusively from the hottest floors of the house.

On the nose comes baked yeast rolls, donut shop, cedar, warm chocolate, cinnamon sugar, bubble gum, ripe peach, cooked cherries, rye spice, dried mint and a little lemon oil. The palate is rich and syrupy, warmed bitter chocolate, flat cola, oak, baking spice, campfire smoke, clove, anise, mint and rosemary. The flavor shift toward herbal is unexpected, welcome and varied, but perfectly unified, elegant and sophisticated.

This is flat-out delicious. Kudos to whoever chose 95 as this spirit’s proof. It’s bold and beautiful, complex and loaded with character, velvety, weighty and luxuriant but without the bite of cask strength whiskey. Sometimes you gotta love medium proof bourbon.

BRAND NOTES

Old Forester 117 Series ‘Warehouse I’ Bourbon Tasting Notes

AROMA: sweet aromatics abound with notes of dark honey, peanut brittle, and toasted oak as hints of spiced pear and stonefruit are complimented by clove and light-roasted coffee
TASTE: juicy apricot and orchard fruit lead the palate with butterscotch, clove, and nutmeg offering a sweet and spiced profile, and white pepper adds a bit of texture
FINISH: Slightly dry and oaky with pear and white pepper persisting through a long but balanced finish

Disclaimer: Bourbon & Banter received a sample of this product from the brand for review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.

Mike Tabben