Distiller: Old Forester

Release: 2022

Whiskey: 1870

Region: Louisville, Ky

Price: $45.00

Proof: 90

Age:  4 years

The Barrel Cellar Score:   88 Points

Review Date: 07/25/2022

About the Bourbon: Old Forester’s 1870 is a tribute to George Garvin Brown’s original batch Bourbon. It is a member of Old Forester’s “Whiskey Row” line up of bourbons, and given a name that is a nod to the year Brown created the first bottles of the Old Forester Brand.

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

Color: Russet

Nose:  Banana, clove, vanilla, brown sugar, and cherry wood.

Palate: Banana nut bread, creme brûlée, and oak.  Drop an ice cube in the bourbon sweetens with notes of banana cream pie, and fresh baked pastries. 

Finish:  Banana, cedar, cherry wood, and toasted brown sugar.

Assessment: Fruit forward in both nose and palate, 1870 brings a mellow twist to the typical Old Forester flavor notes of Bannana nut bread and cinnamon spice. It’s a light to medium bodied easy drinker with some dryness on the back-end, which I would compare to a tanic wine.

The low proof, and fruit notes result in a drink that likens itself to a nice coctail. This makes it a great choice to match with spicier food; at least more so than a typical bourbon would be. 1870 lacks some of the complexity of some of the other “Whiskey Row” bourbons, but over all it adds some mellow character to the series, and will be a great addition to your bourbon collection.

The Barrel Cellar gives Old Forester 1870  88 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 are quite 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.