Old Forester has something new for us. It’s called Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond, and it’s a new bourbon that honors the U.S. Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. Crafted by Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris, this is the second release in the brand’s Whiskey Row series and a follow-up to Old Forester 1870 Original Batch.

“Bottled in Bond” probably sounds familiar, as you’ll find those words on a handful of whiskeys at your local liquor store. To be labeled as Bottled in Bond, whiskey must have been the product of one distillation season, one distiller and from one distillery. It must have been aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof. So there you go.

That was a big moment in bourbon’s history. And now you can sample this small batch expression that mirrors production techniques from that time period.

TASTING NOTES

On the nose, the richly-colored Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond has all the hallmarks of a good bourbon–vanilla, caramel, spice and oak. And those notes are accented by hints of coffee and dark fruits for a particularly fragrant whiskey. Drink up, and flavors include more of those dark fruits alongside dry oak and sweet vanilla. All that leads to a big finish of oak, dusty leather and warm, peppery spices.

Look for Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond to hit the market this September.

Stats:
– 50% ABV
– $49.99

CE Rating: ★★★★

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