A little background

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch was the first release in the Old Forester Whiskey Row series that was first released back in 2015. This expression is a tribute to the year when George Garvin created the Old Forester brand in Louisville’s famous Whiskey Row by batching barrels from three different distilleries to create a consistent, quality product. To emulate this process, the distillery batches barrels from three different warehouses, all with different production dates, proof, and age, and then bottles the blend at 90 proof. Old Forester 1870 Original Batch retails in the $40-$50 range.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Deep Coper

Nose

The nose is relatively sweet, displaying caramel, vanilla, and light oak, but the fruit notes really stand out on the pour. I found notes of crisp green apple, pear, and a few hints of citrus.

Palate

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch has a relatively thin mouthfeel with plenty of sweet notes transitioning from the nose. More sweet caramel, spiced green apple and oak are present, along with some pops of citrus fruit. The flavors are pleasant but lacking in terms of potency.

Finish

The finish is medium and generally displays the same sweet and fruit flavors with more of an emphasis on cinnamon (think cinnamon apples). The finish is slightly tannic but it is not overpowering and the oak blends nicely with a soft touch of mint on the back end.

In closing

The Old Forester 1870 Original Batch is a light, sweet, fruit-forward whiskey that pays tribute to a very important year in the history of our native spirit. The fruit flavors are bright and crisp, and they blend together well. However, if you are looking for a big, bold whiskey that delivers a lot of well-defined flavors, you may want to look elsewhere. While I did enjoy this pour, I found myself wanting more with each sip and I couldn’t help but compare this to other releases from the Whiskey Row series that has much more to offer and at the same or similar price point.