Old Forester "Toys Not Bombs" Barrel Strength Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey The Prime Barrel Pick #22

The 'old' in Old Forester isn't just a marketing ploy. The oldest bourbon in continuous production was first sold in 1870 (the first bourbon to be sold exclusively in a sealed bottle). It continued production through prohibition as one of only ten brands authorized for medicinal production.

Founded by a former pharmaceutical salesman named George Garvin Brown, the original version of Old Forester was sold to pharmacies as a medicinal product. Named after Dr. William Forrester, who endorsed its consumption, it is said that the second "r" was dropped to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest with the doctor.

More recently, Old Forester has been doing some cool stuff. They have put out a series of bottles with interesting twists on the reliable old whiskey, changing their recipe to tweaking the aging process. For this bottle, however, all of that tweaking and post-aging blending has been stripped away, and we've got a whiskey that tastes as if you poured it directly from the barrel yourself.

Almost all Brown-Forman whiskey products start from the same grain bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. This one is no different.

Once that fermented mash is distilled in their Louisville, KY plant, the spirit is socked away in charred oak barrels for four to six years (although the bottle has no age statement, it is rumored to be six years old). At 131.2 proof, the heat is certainly present but does not detract from the enjoyment of the pour. Tasting notes are as follows:

• Nose: Bubblegum, maple syrup, and overripe banana 
• Palate: Banana, sea salt, dark chocolate 
• Finish: Warm, peppery, and smokey

We originally had a different idea for the "tater" sticker, but then life happened, and an unfortunate war between Russia and Ukraine broke out.   Regardless of how you feel about the conflict, the least we can do is to help people in need. Having young children ourselves, it is unfamothable to think what young parents are going through. So we decided to donate the lion's share of the proceeds from the sale of this barrel to the Save the Children foundation to help save children in Ukraine.