Bourbon

Whiskey Review: Old Forester Statesman (2017)

We do a pre-review of Old Forester Statesman, a new limited-edition release linked to the new Kingsman film not due out to market until September.

OVERALL RATING

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Tasting Notes

About:

Made from Old Forester’s longstanding rye-forward mash bill and a mingling of 4- to 6-year-old barrels plucked from warmer sections of the distillery’s heat-cycled rickhouses. Suggested retail is $55.
Appearance:
Golden brown with widely spaced, slowly descending legs.
Nose:
Pleasantly mustiness followed by young oak and campfire. Rye grain emerges alongside toast with a back note of deep-woods greenery. With glass time and some swirling, fruit emerges to balance the aroma before delivering a tad of acetone, though it’s not unpleasant.
Palate:


Finish:
Comments:
Like many Louisville bourbon drinkers who view the spirit the unofficial locals’ choice, I say there’s hardly a better daily-drinking bargain on the market than its 100 proof Signature expression. It’s my baseline for all B-F liquids. Of its Whiskey Row Series, the pinnacle (for me) is its 120-proof Prohibition expression, an orotund whiskey in every sense (exactly what all Old Forester barrel pickers want to see bottled, not the 90-proof renditions insisted on by the distillery). Since I sometimes can find Signature for the incredible price of $21 in 1-liter bottles and Prohibition at $60 for a 750ml, I’m not eager to pay $55 for Statesman. For my palate, it lacks the power of Prohibition and the more interesting edges found in Signature.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Steve Coomes

Steve Coomes is an award-winning journalist and author with a specialization in whiskey and food. Throughout his extensive 30-year career, he has contributed his expertise to various national trade and consumer publications, including notable names such as USA Today, Southern Living, Delta Sky Magazine, Nation's Restaurant News, Pizza Today, Restaurant Business, Bourbon +, and American Whiskey magazine. His literary accomplishments include the 2013 book "Country Ham: A Southern Tradition of Hogs, Salt & Smoke" and the 2020 publication "The Rebirth of Bourbon: Building a Tourism Economy in Small-Town USA." Beyond his writing pursuits, Steve also shares his passion by leading diverse food and spirits pairing experiences, ranging from large-scale events to intimate gatherings and virtual sessions.

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