This packs a rye punch early on. From the first sip the very spicy notes are evident, almost overwhelmingly so. As the rye calms down the toffee, resin and caramel flavors begin to emerge, along with citrus zest and a muted honey. There are also light notes of clove, cardamom, a little cinnamon, and some resin oak/wood notes. In a rye whiskey the rye should be the dominant identifier, but here’s it’s too dominate and little else is experienced given the potent spice. If drinking on its own, it’s best to cut this with water, or let an ice cube mellow it down. Made from 15% corn, 20% malted barley and 65% rye, the idea of the percentage of barley was to soften the spice, however, the rye is not shy. Old Forester is a decent rye, better for blending and certainly for cutting, but on its own it’s a bit of a one-trick-pony. 90
Reviewed by Michael Cervin
Brand – Old Forester
Spirit Type – Rye
Other Designation – Whiskey
Country of Origin – USA
Price – $35
Score – 90
Date Reviewed – 9/28/2023