Distilled By: Old Forester / Brown-Forman
Location: Louisville, KY
Parent Company: Brown-Forman Distillers Company
Class: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
Proof: 115 (57.5% ABV)
Age: NAS
Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
This is the third release in the Whiskey Row Series and is a celebration of the legacy of company president Owsley Brown I, who was granted a permit in 1920 to bottle medicinal whiskey during Prohibition. The typical barrel proof after aging during that time was 115 proof, thus the reason it was chosen for this expression.
BSG REVIEW:
Color: Dark amber
Nose: Graham crackers, brown sugar, black cherry, oak, caramel and the high alcohol content definitely tingles the nose.
Palate: The graham cracker and brown sugar are present early, with the fruit and oak notes coming in not far behind. I get the spicier pepper notes and some nuttiness as it moves further back on the tongue.
Finish: Black pepper, cinnamon, dark chocolate and charred oak are all present in this long finish.
This is definitely my favorite of the Whiskey Row series now. When I first tried it, it was a very close second to the 1897 Bottled-in-Bond. Since drinking them all several more times, I have come to absolutely love this 1920 Prohibition Style above the others. This is something I can say will always have a place in my bar. It is readily available and, though the price is a little on the high side (around $60 in my area), I can see it being widely accepted by those that enjoy high proof bourbons.
Check out the BSG Review for the rest of the Old Forester Whiskey Row series (1870, 1897, 1910) and the movie tie-in release, Statesman.
BSG Score: 92/100
