Review #: 216
Description: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2019
Spirit: Bourbon
Background: Old Forester’s yearly Limited Edition release, the 2019 Birthday Bourbon comes to us from 150 barrels aged for 11 years in the second floor of warehouse I. Bottled at 105 proof, let’s see how it tastes.
Distillery – Old Forester
Bottler – Old Forester
Brand – Old Forester
Selection – N/A
ABV – 52.5%
Age – 11 Years
Nose – Rich cocoa, dark cinnamon, smoked cherries, tingle of spice on the nose, musty leather
Taste – Milk chocolate, chocolate covered cherries, caramel
Finish – BIG hit of cherries, ginger snap cookie, spiced cake, nice and balanced oak structure, little bit of pipe tobacco lingers
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? Yes, at retail
Thoughts: This was super enjoyable, with a rich chocolatey note throughout. The oak really worked great with it and the proof was right on point. The blast of cherries I could see some people associate with cough syrup and be a turn off, but I don’t think I’m as sensitive to it as others. At retail price, I think it’s worth the horrible footprint of the bottle. But like most bourbons, don’t pay secondary rates.