Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co.
Region: Louisville, Kentucky
Aging: 4 Years
ABV: 50% ABV
Proof: 100 Proof
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Non-Chill Filtered: No
MSRP Price: $40
Old Forester 1897 Tasting Notes
Appearance: Dark Amber
Nose: Rich caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, light fruits, crisp green apple, citrus zest, banana, cinnamon sugar, baking spice, nutmeg, almond
Palate: Rich caramel, toasted oak, almond, vanilla, citrus notes, banana, cinnamon toast, brown sugar, rye spice, pepper spice
Finish: Rich and full finish with a bit of spice and heat to it – leaves you with heavy caramel, charred oak, and peppery spice
Is Old Forester 1897 an Approachable Whiskey?
Old Forester 1897 is easy to drink and has a lovely nose.
It does have a bit of spice and heat on the palate though that could be a little strong for beginners.
Is Old Forester 1897 Complex?
Old Forester 1897 has a few layers of flavor but it is mostly spicy and peppery charred oak.
This expression of Old Forester leans more heavily into the spice and higher proof point than other Old Forester bourbons and if you’re a fan of pepper spice bourbon, you may enjoy this one.
I personally prefer both Old Forester 100 Proof Bourbon and Old Forester 1910 to this one.
What are Old Forester 1897’s strongest attributes/flavors?
Old Forester 1897 is mostly spice and oak flavors.
It still has the caramel layer underneath, but this bottle is a bold expression of flavors leaning more toward the Old Forester 1920 flavors.
Is Old Forester 1897 a go-to whiskey?
Old Forester 1897 could be a go-to whiskey if you’re a fan of spicy bourbon and looking for a 100 Proof pour.
I prefer the smoother Old Forester offerings like my favorite – Old Forester 1910 which is slightly more expensive, but worth every penny.
Is Old Forester 1897 priced accurately to its quality?
Old Forester 1897 is a pretty decent bottle for the $40 price tag.
While I do have other favorites at this price point, fans of oaky and spicy bourbon will be a fan of this one, and at an affordable price.
Conclusion for Old Forester 1897
Recently, I visited the Old Forester Distillery on my Kentucky Bourbon Trail Trip birthday with my dad.
Old Forester was an excellent distillery to tour. It was right in downtown Kentucky and they did a great job of taking you through their distilling process from beginning to end where they toasted a barrel right in front of us.
At the end of our tour, we got to do a whiskey tasting that consisted of Old Forester 1870, Old Forester 1897, Old Forester 1910, and Old Forester 1920.
I had already tasted and reviewed all of these whiskeys, but they were new to my dad.
Generally, everyone’s favorite is either the Old Forester 1910 or the Old Forester 1920. They cost a little more but are worth the price tag.
If you like a more subtle and smooth bourbon, the Old Forester 1910 is a great choice.
If you like a bolder bourbon, the Old Forester 1920 is for you.
After the tasting though, we decided that all 4 whiskeys were worth the price tag and it really just came down to how much you wanted to spend on a bottle.
We lucked out and actually got a chance to taste the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and The President’s Choice.
They were two of the best whiskeys I tasted on the entire trip.
You really can’t go wrong buying any Old Forester bottles and they really are some of my best go-to whiskeys to both drink neat and to use in cocktails.
They make for an excellent old-fashioned.
Let Us Know What You Think
I hope you enjoyed this tasting experience with me.
If you decide to give this bottle a shot, please let me know on social media via Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Thanks for reading and cheers!
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