Old Forester Rye Whisky Review
{I was provided a press sample of Old Forester Rye in advance of release. All opinions are my own.}
I don’t know when I’ve so pumped about a whiskey release, y’all. When I heard about Old Forester’s new 100 proof Rye release, I was so, so excited. Old Forester Signature (100 Proof) is one of my all-time favorite bourbons, and I love what Master Distiller Chris Morris and Master Taster Jackie Zykan are doing to create new riffs on Brown-Forman’s flagship line.
I set up a tasting flight to sample the Rye, both for comparison and to take an opportunity to revisit two of my favorite Brown-Forman pours. Along with the Rye sample, I tasted Old Forester 100 and Woodford Reserve Rye. Both Rye expressions have a lower percentage of rye in their mash bill — 53% for the Woodford and 65% for the Forester — while many other brands use up to 90% rye in their rye whiskey. The Woodford Rye is one we reach for frequently at my house; Bob especially likes it to balance out the sweetness in Old-Fashioneds or Whiskey Sours.
Tasting Notes:
I started with the Old Forester Signature as a baseline. As I said earlier, I love this one as a sipper.
Proof: 100
Nose: initial notes of brown sugar and caramel, opening up to butterscotch and oak.
Taste: apple & baking spice
Finish: apple & clove
Y’all, I love this bourbon. It’s versatile in cocktails and wonderful as a sipper. It’s at a fabulous price point, and it plays such an important role in Louisville’s bourbon legacy. Everyone should have this on their bar.
I moved on to Woodford Reserve Rye to switch over from a bourbon mashbill to a rye. I know that opinions on this one are fairly divisive, but I’m a fan.
Proof: 90.4
Nose: initial notes of rye and black pepper; as it opens, there’s a fruity depth and a buttery warmth.
Taste: spice, rye, & sorghum
Finish: apple
Moving from the robust 100 proof of Forester bourbon to the Woodford Rye was certainly noticeable. The lower proof does allow the buttery depth of the whiskey to open up a little more. I love the way this whiskey inverts both bourbon and rye mash bills as a spicy riff on Woodford Reserve’s bourbon expression.
These two favorites set up some pretty stiff expectations for the Old Forester Rye. I was pretty happy to see that this big whiskey lived up to my big expectations.
Proof: 100
Nose: starts out spicy, reminiscent of those cinnamon red-hot candies, before opening up to a buttery depth and notes of banana bread
Taste: rye grain, pear
Finish: peppery with a hint of lemon
I tasted this new against two of my go-to whiskies, and it did not disappoint. It certainly brings that fruit note that is prevalent across the entire Brown-Forman portfolio. The higher proof and spicier rye note differentiates this from both its bourbon sibling and its Woodford cousin. At $23 for a 750 ml, you should definitely have this on hand for both sipping and mixing. I think it would make a really nuanced Manhattan.
Old Forester Rye certainly lived up to my expectations. It manages to be at once unique and familiar, complimenting the 150 year-old Old Forester line in a smart and thoughtful manner.
(Editorial note: I use the American “whiskey” with an e in everyday usage. Brown-Forman rocks the boat by labeling Old Forester products with the Scottish “whisky” moniker, while their Woodford Reserve line is “whiskey”.)