Old Forester Introduces New 117 Series: Bottled in Bond

by Gary Carter
July 19, 2023

Old Forester has unveiled a new bourbon in its 117 series, the Bottled in Bond.

A statement from the whiskey brand noted that this expression is made to strictly follow the 1897 Bottled in Bond Act, whiskey that’s bottled from barrels filled during a single distillation season.

In this case, it’s from the wet and warm spring of 2014.

Old Forester 117 Series Bottled in Bond — Old Forester has unveiled a new bourbon in its 117 series, the Bottled in Bond. (image via Brown-Forman)

And to note, to be a Bottled in Bond spirit, it must be matured in a U.S. bonded warehouse for at least four years and bottled at 50% ABV (100 proof).

Old Forester’s master taster, Melissa Rift, said that the heritage of Old Forester is uniquely tied to the Bottled in Bond movement, “as George Garvin Brown’s first bottled bourbon really set the stage for quality guarantee decades before the historic law went into effect.”

She added, “This bonded expression, as part of the 117 Series, is a fantastic opportunity to look at a very small batch of bonded liquid and how it has developed from that single season to the offering we are launching today.”

Her tasting notes show that on the nose, Old Forester 117 Series: Bottled in Bond features sweet notes of stewed blackberries, caramelized apricot and sweet dates. On the palate, it tastes of a medley of caramelized fruits with a subtle hint of spearmint. Its herbal tea finish features dried fruits and heavy cream flavors.

The Bottled in Bond is now available at the retail shop at Old Forester Distilling Co. as well as in select states for direct-to-consumer sales and at select Kentucky stores for a suggested price of $59.99.