Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style is the third expression in the celebrated Old Forester Whiskey Row Series, launched in 2016 to commemorate one of the most pivotal chapters in American whiskey history. Founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown, Old Forester holds the distinction of being the only bourbon brand sold continuously by the same company before, during, and after Prohibition. When the Volstead Act took effect in 1920, only six Kentucky distilleries received federal permits to bottle whiskey for medicinal purposes. Brown-Forman secured Permit KY-3, allowing Old Forester to continue production at 117 West Main Street on Louisville's famed Whiskey Row. During that era, federal regulations required medicinal whiskey to enter barrels at 100 proof and be bottled at 100 proof, but the angel's share concentrated mature stocks to roughly 115 proof in the barrel. To honor that historical reality, this expression is bottled at exactly 115 proof, recreating the rich, full bodied character of Old Forester as it would have tasted in the warehouse during Prohibition. Bottled at 57.5% ABV using the standard Old Forester mash bill of 72 percent corn, 18 percent rye, and 10 percent malted barley, this is one of the most acclaimed bourbons in the modern Brown-Forman portfolio.
ABV / Proof
| Brand |
Old Forester |
| Distillery |
Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Brown-Forman Corporation |
| Type |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky |
| Series |
Whiskey Row Series, third release |
| Mash Bill |
72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley |
| Cask |
New Charred American Oak |
| ABV |
57.5% |
| Proof |
115 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
USA |
| Launched |
2016 |
| Historical Reference |
Brown-Forman Permit KY-3, Prohibition era medicinal whiskey |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep amber with rich copper highlights.
Nose: Intense cherry preserves, chewy caramel, dark chocolate, thickened maple syrup, and candied spiced nuts.
Palate: Bold and full bodied with cinnamon stick, black pepper, sweet caramel, table syrup, peppermint, and dark chocolate. Toasted pecan and rye spice build through the mid palate.
Finish: Long and warming with lingering oak, milk chocolate, maple syrup, and seasoned caramel.
FAQ
Why is it bottled at 115 proof? During Prohibition, federal regulations required whiskey to be bottled at exactly 100 proof. Stocks entered the barrel at 100 proof and naturally concentrated to roughly 115 proof during maturation due to the angel's share. Old Forester bottles the 1920 expression at 115 proof to recreate the rich profile the bourbon would have shown in the barrel before being cut for legal medicinal sale.
How does 1920 fit in the Whiskey Row Series? The Whiskey Row Series honors pivotal moments in Old Forester's history. 1870 Original Batch celebrates the brand's founding, 1897 Bottled in Bond honors the Bottled in Bond Act, 1910 Old Fine Whisky commemorates a fire damaged batch finished in a second barrel, 1920 Prohibition Style honors Permit KY-3, and 1924 marks the year Old Forester acquired barrels from closed distilleries.
Is Old Forester really the only bourbon sold before, during, and after Prohibition? Yes. Old Forester is the only bourbon brand continuously sold by the same company across all three eras, making 1920 Prohibition Style a direct tribute to that uninterrupted history.
Where can I buy Old Forester 1920 online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
