The Old Forester Single Barrel Rye is a whiskey brand produced by Brown Forman Corporation but named after a well-known doctor in Louisville Dr. Williams Forrester. It is one of the largest spirits and wine company in America. It was founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown; a young pharmaceutical salesman in Loiusville.
His original brand is The Old Forest Brand; A Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey. It is America’s first bottled bourbon, and the only bourbon sold continuously by the same company before, during and after prohibition. Many distillers were closed down but Brown Forman applied for a licensing and received a license from the U.S government authorizing lawful production for medicinal purposes.
In 1890, the organization name was changed to Brown Forman in order to reflect the partnership. George Forman died in 1901, and Brown purchased his stock, shortly after this Brown Forman was incorporated.
Product Variations
The Old Forester brand has a wide range of product and they include:
- Old Forester Classic
- Old Forester Signature
- Old Forester ready to drink bourbon cocktail
- Old Forester Birthday Bourbon introduced in 2002.
- Old Forester President Choice Bourbon introduced in the 1940
- Old Forester 86 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey released in 1870
- Old Forester Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.
- Old Forester Whiskey Row Series:
- 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1910 Old Fine Whiskey Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- 1920 Prohibition Style Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Old Forester Statesman Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Old Forester Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey introduced in 1870.
Old Forester Rye Single Barrel
It delivers on the same balanced and unique flavor of other proof variations, but it is amplified and in an unfiltered raw form said Master Taster Jackie Zykan. It was released in June 1, 2021 and it is available at the retail shop at Old Forester Distilling Co. and nationwide at $79.99 in 750ml limited quantities.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Dessert forward, creamy vanilla and lemon custard, alongside rich caramel and dark brown sugar.
Taste: Full-bodied with a base of ripe orchard fruit, subtle cinnamon stick, dried dill, and hazelnut.
Finish: Lengthy and spice driven, with peripheral black pepper and unpinnings of green anisette and crisp mint.
It is produced from a single barrel with relatively barrel strength meaning that (a particular fine barrel and barrel is picked and an entire production is run from just one cask). The cask strength is about 63.5% ABV (127 proof). The Old Forester Rye Single Barrel is a WIN-WIN for those seeking bombastic flavors.
Recipe
- 72% Corn
- 18% Rye and
- 10% Malted Barley
But, there is a little change in percentage of grain recipe for Old Forester Rye:
- 65% Rye
- 20% Malted Barley and
- 15% Corn.
It also goes through a fermentation process: The yeast strain used by the Old Forester Brand is called IB. It is freshly grown daily for use in the fermentation process, and it lasts between 3-5 days and uses 20% sour mash. The mash is relatively 4.5% ABV on Day 1, 6.8% ABV on Day 2, 9.2% ABV on Day 3, and 10% ABV on Day 4.
It also goes through a distillation process: Old Forester is distilled 2 times in a column in small 15-barrel batches. The new make low wines which comes off the first dilation at 120 proof (60% ABV), then the liquid is pumped into a doubler, and the high wine comes off at 140 proof (70% ABV).
It also goes through maturation process: The new make is lowered to 125 proof, and aged in new charred oak barrels (53 gallons) which are custom made for the brand. Each barrel is comprised of 29-31 oak staves. The aging warehouse is temperature and humidity controlled for optimum aging.