As the story goes, back in 1910 a fire damaged the bottling line at the Old Forester facility. There was a vat of mature bourbon ready to be bottled and instead of letting it sit in the vat during repairs it went into newly charred barrels where it sat until the line was repaired. Once it was, the whiskey was deemed to have changed enough that it got a new name. This Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky is a tribute to that long-gone expression.
To further mimic the circumstances of the 1910 incident they mixed together vats of whisky, brought it down to 100 proof and then put it into the new, heavily charred, barrels for its second round of maturation. This would indicate that double barrel maturation isn’t anything new, but more a piece of a rediscovered past. Now, let’s get into this bourbon review.
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky Review: Details and Tasting Notes
1910 Old Fine Whisky, Old Forester’s fourth and final expression in the Whiskey Row Series, is a double barreled Bourbon creating a smooth mingling of sweet oatmeal raisin cookie and milk chocolate, caramel corn, and evolving spice that lead into a refined, charred oak finish.
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky Review: Details (price, mash bill, cask type, ABV, etc.)
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Old Forester
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Cask: New Charred Cask (x2)
Age: 4+ Years
ABV: 46.5%
Price: $55*
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky Review: Tasting Notes
EYE
Mahogany
NOSE
Oak, buttery dark sweets (brown sugar, caramel, etc.), spice, dried dark fruit, apple crumble, red licorice and light herbal touch.
PALATE
Tannic oak, spice, cloying dark fruit (cherry cough syrup), roasted corn and a bit herbal.
FINISH
Medium -> Cloying dark fruit sweetness, oak, vanilla and burnt chestnuts.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Not fully balanced, medium body and a warm slick feel that turns tannic.
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky Review: Overall and Score
Not terrible, but not great either. Aroma is dark, rich and sweet with oaky layers keeping the sweetness in check and is my favorite part of the whiskey. Palate is tannic, cloying and medicinally sweet; not a fan. The finish is a perpetuation of the palate and ends in this burnt nutty character that reminds me of burnt chestnuts when I was a kid.
I hate to say it, but the Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky is my least favorite Old Forester I’ve ever had. I know that some people love this one, but there some slightly off and conflicting. That aroma though, that’s the saving grace.
SCORE: 82/100 (B-)
*Disclosure: This Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky was graciously sent to me by the company for the purposes of this review. The views, opinions, and tasting notes are 100% my own.
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky Review 55
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky Review Summary
Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky is… not something I care much for. It’s so intensely sweet that I have a hard time getting into it.
Overall
- Nose - 84
- Palate - 82
- Finish - 82
- Balance, Body & Feel - 80
User Review
( votes)( review)
I’ve heard mixed reviews on this guy and yours further complicates it. I’m solid with the 1920, although I have to add a little water while avoiding overdoing it due to the proof and the spice flavor. Can’t decide if it’s worth $60 with tax.
I’ve heard a lot of people talk about bananas around the finish in this one. Your review doesn’t mention it but I’ve read other reviews where you may be put off by bananas.
♂️
I didn’t get banana notes in this one, but it’s definitely not my favorite of this series. That 1920 is where it’s at for me!
I have to also chime in…this is by far the best expression from old forester I have had in a long time, including birthday bourbon and the rest of the whiskey row series, I would like to note that sometimes whiskey samples bottles turn out a different product than the actual.
Nevertheless this is a delicious bourbon and im glad to have three bottles too
Hey Matt,
I’ve only found that to be true in a couple of cases, and most of those times it was because the sample was a pre-production batch. When I’ve picked up a bottle or tried again I’ve updated if needed but mostly found the difference to be very small. That said, I’m hoping to find a bottle of this. My local spots sold out immediately, but I’m always looking.
Cheers!
Hey after reading above I do have to agree that it has continued to get better I have had it since it came out and my bottle gets better each day I heard that the first batch has sold out here’s hoping that all subsequent batches get better
Indeed, cheers!
Not my fave OF
This was also not my fave OF. My favorite is 1920. This one I actually didn’t care for at all.
I love that 1920 too. Haven’t done my review yet, but it’s coming. Cheers Evrim!
Wow, I have to agree with Freddy above!
It is a surprise for me too, as I find myself more often in agreement with your reviews.
On the other hand, I am mostly a single malt drinker.
I got this for my gf who is more partial to Bourbon.
We both liked it so much that I got 2 more bottles.
If I were to score it, I would give it 87-88.
I also got the 1920 Prohibition Style, so will look to see what I think of that soon.
In any case, thank you for your great reviews!
I really dig the 1920, but this one, even 2 weeks after first tasting, just doesn’t hit it for me. It sold out super quick in my area and missed grabbing a bottle, but I’m going to be watching for friends or bar pours to try it again. Thanks for sharing, and glad you and your GF like it, cheers Gary!
I wasn’t thrilled with it at first either, but after listening to another review that came back to it 3+ weeks later, it changed a lot for the better! I would love to hear your take on this one a month or so after it’s had time to open up, seems the oxidation does a lot of good for it.
I have a bit less than 1/2 of the sample left right now. I’ll definitely let it sit a while longer and see if it changes… and keep an eye out for a bottle.
Cheers Jimmy!
Interesting about the ‘accidental’ double barreling in 1910: great history! I enjoy the prohibition release a lot but can’t get into the others: I’ve lately been staring at my bottle of Original Batch but can’t bring myself to drink anymore. I love Brown Formans history but their expressions seem to miss for me mostly. I probably would have chanced this but I’ll pass: your reviews have yet to direct me wrongly. I would love a bottle of the Sputnik tho!
Yeah the 1920 is my favorite of the lineup so far; it hits the right balance of sweet and rustic. And agreed on the sputnik. Even just for the bottle, though it helps the bourbon in it was great. Cheers Jon!
Wow – color me surprised!
I honestly like this expression the best of the 4 (I would give it a 90/92 A-). I can see your point with it being the sweetest of the 4 (to me it’s what makes it stand out, and probably why I enjoy it more than the 1920 Prohibition which I would place 4th on my list).
Anywho – keep up the good work JP!
I am beyond shocked. I think this was the best bourbon of last year 2018. I bought a bottle about 6 months ago and I had a couple pours last night and its just gotten better over time. Thank you for all you do and your fantastic website.
Thank you, this might be one that needs time and air that it just doesn’t get in a sample bottle. Definitely keeping my eyes open for a bottle! Cheers Ryan :)
Interesting, I’d put the 1920 as #1 on my list :) Thanks for sharing, cheers Freddy!