Distiller: Old Forester 

Release: 2020

Whiskey: 150th Anniversary

Region: Louisville, Ky

Price: $150.00

Proof: 126.5

Age:  No Age Statement

The Barrel Cellar Score:  90 Points

Review Date: 08/22/2021

About the Bourbon: Brown-Forman celebrates 150th anniversary with three distinct batches of bourbon. The bottle I am reviewing today comes from batch #3 which has a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% Rye, and 10% malted barley. The barrels pulled for the special occasion were hand-picked by both master distiller Chris Morris and master taster Jackie Zykan.

I enjoyed the whiskey for this review using a set of Prestige diamond whiskey glasses.

Color: Maple syrup

Nose: Plum, toasted sugar, toffee, and a hint of saltwater taffy.

Palate: Lots of plum notes, milk chocolate, and banana nut bread (which should be an Old Forester trademark at this point). Drop a couple of cubes in and notes of homemade caramel, orange cream, and well ripened pear emerge.

Finish: Vanilla bean, cherry, and oak.

Assessment: Full in body and color, this bourbon is one of the most beautiful looking bourbon’s I’ve poured. It’s thick, it’s a nice deep maple color, and it clings to the glass – it is seemingly just shy of syrupy. The juice is signature Old Forester, with heavy handed notes of banana Nut bread, and a fantastic creaminess. The high proof adds a bit of heat, that softens with a couple of ice cubes (which is how I prefer to enjoy it).

How does it compare with Old Forester’s other offerings?  If you are expecting a birthday bourbon, you will be disappointed, but if you enjoy Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series, you will enjoy this one.

The Barrel Cellar gives Old Forester’s 150th Anniversary Bourbon (Batch 3) 90 points.

Special Offer

Prestige Decanters is offering our readers an 8% discount on all their products, including the diamond whiskey glasses used in my review of this whiskey as well as a wide variety of beautiful decanters.  Use promo code “BarrelCellar” at checkout. Prestige’s products really are beautiful, they will make great conversation pieces for visiting friends and family, or a great gift.  Read my review on a couple of the items here.