Old Forester adds to Whisky Row series

Brown-Forman-owned Old Forester has launched 1924, a 10-year-old Bourbon that features a new mash bill for the brand.

The new expression is made from 79%, corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley – a deviation from the brand’s traditional 72% corn and 18% rye bill. It is the fifth expression in the series and the oldest to date.

The whiskey honours the 100th anniversary of when Old Forester first acquired barrels from closed distilleries, giving it different mash bills to bottle. During Prohibition, Old Forester received one of six permits allowing it to continue producing whiskey for medicinal purposes. In 1924, four years after Prohibition began, Owsley Brown, the eldest son of George Garvin Brown, began receiving said barrels.

“We are honoured to commemorate this historic milestone with a new featured mash bill and a beautiful 10-year age statement,’” master taster Melissa Rift said. “It allows whisky lovers to taste just how dynamic our brand can be while staying rooted in our rich history.”

Old Forester 1924 is bottled at 50% ABV, priced at US$115, and will be available nationwide. It has notes of chocolate-covered graham cracker dusted with cinnamon and aromas of fudge, cured tobacco, and rich oak.

The new whiskey joins 1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond, 1910 Old Fine Whisky, and 1920 Prohibition Style in the Whiskey Row series. Each bottling highlights an important moment in Old Forester’s 153-year history.

In November, Old Forester’s 150th-anniversary decanters sold out in 14 minutes. Each was priced at US$2,500 and sold exclusively on the brand’s website. This news came on the heels of owner Brown-Forman reporting a 9% decrease in brand sales, among a 2% increase across the company’s broader portfolio.