Old Forester Single Barrel Rye – Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey (750ml)

Old Forester Single Barrel Rye is a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, representing a distinctive and often intense expression from the historic Old Forester distillery. As a "single barrel" offering, each bottle comes from an individual barrel, meaning that while the core characteristics remain consistent, specific flavor nuances will vary from barrel to barrel, making each bottling unique. The whiskey is distilled from a proprietary rye mash bill, which contains a higher proportion of rye grain (at least 51%) alongside corn and malted barley. This mash bill is crucial for developing the whiskeys characteristic spicy, peppery, and often herbaceous notes. Following distillation in Old Foresters traditional column stills, the new make spirit is filled into new, charred American oak barrels at a specific barrel entry proof. The whiskey then undergoes maturation for several years in Old Foresters multi-story warehouses in Kentucky, where temperature and humidity fluctuations influence its development. Unlike standard batch bottlings, this whiskey is not blended with others after aging. Instead, individual barrels are selected for their exceptional quality and unique profile by the tasting team, and the whiskey is bottled directly from that barrel at its barrel strength, without chill filtration, to preserve all of its natural flavors, oils, and the full intensity imparted by its time in the wood.

Flavor Profile: (Varies by barrel, but generally) Spicy and bold, with notes of rye grain, black pepper, caramel, vanilla, and oak.

Pairs Well With: Smoked meats, strong cheeses, dark chocolate, pastrami sandwiches.

Old Forester holds a unique and venerable place in the history of American whiskey, particularly bourbon, as Americas First Bottled Bourbon. Founded by George Garvin Brown in 1870, it was groundbreaking for being the first bourbon to be sold exclusively in sealed glass bottles, rather than from barrels. This innovative approach was revolutionary at the time, establishing a new standard for quality, consistency, and purity in an era when adulteration of spirits was common. Browns commitment to "sealed, unbroken bottles" ensured consumers received an unadulterated product, building trust and setting a precedent for the entire industry.

Old Forester is produced by Brown-Forman Corporation, one of the largest American-owned spirits companies, which continues to be a family-controlled business, maintaining the legacy of its founder. The brand remains dedicated to producing authentic Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey using traditional methods that have been refined over more than 150 years.

The production process at Old Forester begins with a proprietary high-rye mash bill, featuring a significant percentage of rye alongside corn and malted barley. This mash bill contributes to the bourbons distinct spicy character while retaining the foundational sweetness of corn. The whiskey is distilled in Old Foresters own column stills, located in Louisville, Kentucky, drawing on the regions limestone-filtered water.

A defining characteristic of Old Foresters aging process is its unique heat-cycled warehouses. While many distilleries rely solely on natural temperature fluctuations, Old Forester employs a system that circulates warm air through their multi-story aging warehouses (rickhouses). This technique creates more consistent temperature changes, promoting a deeper interaction between the whiskey and the new, charred American oak barrels. The barrels are carefully positioned throughout these warehouses to achieve various maturation profiles.

Old Foresters core range includes expressions like Old Forester 86 Proof, Old Forester 100 Proof, and Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style, each showcasing different facets of their unique distillate and aging philosophy. The brand is also highly celebrated for its annual limited releases, such as the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon and the Old Forester Presidents Choice, which allow the Master Distiller to highlight exceptional barrels or unique aging experiments, offering connoisseurs distinct and often higher-proof variations of their beloved bourbon.

Across all its expressions, Old Forester remains committed to crafting full-flavored, authentic Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey that honors its pioneering heritage while continuously exploring the depths of its unique production methods.