Old Forester is the only bourbon continuously sold before, during and after Prohibition, and its 86 proof expression is the everyday heart of the brand. Founded in 1870 by pharmaceutical salesman George Garvin Brown, Old Forester was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed glass bottles, a genuine innovation at a time when whisky was ladled from barrels and routinely tampered with. That sealed bottle was a guarantee of quality, and Brown backed it with a statement printed on every label to this day, declaring that the whisky is distilled by his company alone, that they are responsible for its richness and fine quality, and that nothing better exists in the market. More than 150 years later, Old Forester remains in the hands of the same family owned company in Louisville, Kentucky. The bourbon is made from a mash of 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley and aged in new charred American oak, then bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof). It pours a warm amber and opens with a rich nose of sweet vanilla, caramel and ripe banana over toasted oak. The palate is smooth and medium bodied, layering butterscotch, honey and baked apple with a gentle wave of rye spice and cinnamon. The finish is clean and warming, with lingering oak, chocolate and soft spice. At 86 proof it is approachable enough to sip neat or over ice and sturdy enough to carry a cocktail, making it a reliable workhorse for Old Fashioneds, Mint Juleps, Whiskey Sours and highballs. Presented in the brand's classic embossed bottle with its gold framed label and blue accents, it is an outstanding value in an authentic piece of bourbon history.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
43% |
| Proof |
86 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States |
| Region |
Kentucky |
| Type |
Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky |
| Distillery |
Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky |
| Producer |
Brown-Forman |
| Mashbill |
72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Maturation |
New charred American oak |
| Established |
1870 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm amber.
Nose: Sweet vanilla and caramel with ripe banana and toasted oak.
Palate: Smooth and medium bodied, with butterscotch, honey and baked apple over gentle rye spice and cinnamon.
Finish: Clean and warming, with lingering oak, chocolate and soft spice.
FAQ
What proof is Old Forester?
This bottling is 43% ABV, which is 86 proof.
What is the Old Forester mashbill?
It is made from 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley.
Why is it spelled whisky without the e?
Old Forester has always used the whisky spelling on its label, a convention it has kept since 1870.
What makes Old Forester historically significant?
It was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed glass bottles and the only bourbon continuously sold before, during and after Prohibition.
How should I drink Old Forester 86?
It works neat, over ice, or in an Old Fashioned, Mint Julep, Whiskey Sour or highball.
Where can I buy Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon online?
Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
