A single barrel of whiskey, aged to perfection (ideally) and bottled to be sold and appreciated by the whiskey world at large. This all sounds pretty common for a distillery, right? But not every barrel bottled is directly from a single barrel, and more often than not, there's a master blender hard at work alchemizing the perfect blend from various barrels of whiskey. With the rising popularity of blending amongst brands known exclusively for their blending skills and the subsequent success of those efforts, it makes sense to wonder: has the gleam of a single barrel lost some of its shine as a result?
Single barrels are much more than meets the eye. Once the barrel is filled, the magic begins as it ages, and the home of said barrel matters significantly. While craft distilleries are less likely to offer single barrel offerings as they make a name for themselves in this hugely competitive market, the likes of Wild Turkey, Four Roses, and Old Forester offer single barrel programs as a way of life, it seems. With so many options available, how does one pick and choose?
As the old saying goes, the devil is in the details, and she sure loves her whiskey. She also recommends (the devil, that is, not me—I cringe like I just sipped High West Campfire whenever I refer to myself in the third person) focusing on the warehouse, the floor, and where you are purchasing your single barrel. The location of where the barrel rests affects the taste, especially if the warehouse is heat cycled, as some are on the Old Forester campus. Additionally, what floor the barrel hangs out in the warehouse can affect the depth of interaction between whiskey and wood. Lastly, if you're unable to try before you buy, following and supporting a store and/or reviewer you trust is a must. Paying attention to all three will likely result in less regret and get you excited for upcoming releases from the bigger guys, like the distillery featured today.
Affectionately named "Strawberry Krunch," this particular Old Forester single barrel gained quick popularity a few years back and has developed a bit of a cult following ever since. When Nick offered to send a sample my way for an honest review, I agreed without hesitation, which is no surprise. So we decided to up the ante and offer our readers an Amongst The Whiskey first—a live review with both of us on YouTube.
We talk about the variability in single barrels, the overproof experience of drinking these at barrel strength, and the rare magic when a warehouse K single barrel comes together in sweet perfection. While yours truly (me, Jes, on right in the video above) prefers the written word, I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Nick about this barrel pick. I hope the additional content compliments your reading experience of my notes below!
Company on Label: Old Forester
Whiskey Type: Bourbon
Mash Bill Percentages: 70% corn, 18% rye, 10% barley
Proof: 129.7°
Age: NAS
Further identification: Warehouse K, Floor 6, Barrel 6618; this is a collaboration pick that Mass Bourbon Alliance was invited to taste alongside the Liquor Junction team
Nose: Not at all what I was expecting, and in a very good way. There's great volume, the proof is obviously high, but it's confidently gentle, like someone explaining a passion of theirs when asked. The nose is remarkably creamy, supporting vanilla and caramel through a soft, milky undertone. The fruit is evident, with strawberries ripe for the picking in a field partially shadowed by a line of towering oak trees. I could sit here nosing for much longer than most other Old Forester single barrels I've tried, but my tastebuds are begging for a sip!
Returning to the nose after a taste or two takes me back to my childhood home, where I sat at the kitchen table with my mom, slicing strawberries on top of her cornflake cereal before splashing milk into her bowl. Late in the glass, more wood spice and cinnamon emerge, but the sweet fruit is still there. The empty glass walks me through a mudroom and outside to a campfire with glowing embers and roasted s'mores.
Palate: Oh, the symmetry from nose to palate is just lovely. Creamy vanilla and fruit, with a warming cinnamon and pepper spice. It's effervescent and poppy, with a wonderful back-of-throat heat. A second sip reminds me of strawberries dipped in melted chocolate drying on a sheet of wax paper. There's an all over tongue tingles with toffee sweetness that has me eager to sip some more. Late sips reveal more heat on the tongue and a smidge of oak drying. The fruit is a bit buried now by spice, but in a way that feels inevitable for an almost empty glass. The last sip is like a big hug goodbye and a genuine thank you for stopping by.
TL;DR: expect fruit-forward flavors without a blown-out palate
Rating: 4/5
Holy smokes, I am shocked by this Old Forester single barrel. Historically, these pours come across as very hot for me, but this palate was well-balanced and incredibly approachable. My disbelief of the proof drinking much lower than stated and the flavors swirling about my mouth bumped this usually "let down" whiskey into a wish to have it on my shelf. Unfortunately, that's unlikely to happen, but I'm grateful to have a sense of hope now—perhaps Old Forester single barrels are not all fire water after all!
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