In my initial bourbon blind bracket, we have finally reached the Final Four, followed by the championship showdown. You’ll pick up on a common theme in my initial favorites, and that’s reflected in tonight’s special pour. I’m enjoying Old Forester 1897 Bottled-in-Bond. I didn’t have this bottle when I started the initial tournament, but it’s now a staple of my collection. There’s a touch of ethanol on the nose, but that quickly gives way to fruitier notes, accompanied by just a bit of oak. There’s also oak on the palate, but the overwhelming early flavors are cinnamon, vanilla and caramel. As with most Old Forester offerings, the finish lingers for a while, and the 100-proof baseline leaves a residual warmth for a while after the sip is gone. It’s not my favorite Old Forester whiskey, but the 1897 has a prominent space on my shelf.
On to the final results. Again, the PDF from this tournament is provided if you’d like to look at the overall scores without the commentary.
Fifth Round – Semifinals
Old Forester Single Barrel 82, John J. Bowman Single Barrel 73. I’m not a huge fan of Sazarac bourbons, but the Bowman has to be one of my favorites in their line. Deep color and a complex nose that includes a variety of aromas lead to an extremely enjoyable flavor that is sweet and rich with classic bourbon flavors. Unfortunately, it was matched against one of my absolute favorites – the Old Forester Single Barrel. This store pick’s nose leads with rich, candied cherries and a palate that includes those same cherries, married with creamy caramel and a touch of oak. I simply can’t get enough of this bourbon, and it’s earned its place in my final round.
Old Forester Baby Birthday 102 80, Wild Turkey Rare Breed 75. My personal creation continues to advance, this time besting one of my absolute favorite pours. Rare Breed checks in at close to 117 proof, but it doesn’t drink with the expected spice you’d get from that proof. The classic nose of vanilla, caramel and toffee is there, as is a bit of oak that likely comes from the older barrels that contribute to the blend. There’s a nice bit of baking spice on the palate to accompany the flavors present in the nose, and some nice brown sugar follows on the finish. Now, as for the “Baby Birthday 102.” I’m not typically a fan of high-rye bourbons, and both the 1920 and 1910 Old Foresters (that make up this blend) barely miss hitting that mark with 18 percent rye in the mashbill. But the richness and almost wine-like color that comes from the deep, alligator char employed by Old Forester also imparts delicious flavors like black cherries, vanilla and chocolate. Honestly, drinking this is almost like an ice cream sundae in a glass. Our championship is now set – Old Forester vs. Old Forester. Let the better Forester win!
Sixth Round – Championship
Old Forester Baby Birthday 102 83, Old Forester Single Barrel 82. Such a hard decision. All of the flavor notes I mentioned earlier were still there, but this came down to a simple question. Which one would I be more likely to choose if I was having a celebratory pour. There’s a clear disparity in proof – the Old Forester Single Barrel checks in at a hefty 134.6 proof, while my Baby Birthday is 101.6. The Single Barrel’s ethanol bite are evident for a couple of seconds before the flavors settle in, while the Baby Birthday gets right to the point. They’re both hugely enjoyable in their own right, but the Baby Birthday is instantly warming and almost refreshing. Like I said in the earlier review, it’s a sundae in a glass.
The bracket is ended and we have a champion – Old Forester Baby Birthday 102! I’ve switched pours and will celebrate with the victor!
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt
