Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Bourbon Whisky

Product Description

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch: Where the Whiskey Row Story Begins

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch is the first expression in the Old Forester Whiskey Row Series, a lineup that lets you taste your way through the brand's history, one release at a time. Old Forester is America's first bottled bourbon. George Garvin Brown created it in 1870 on Louisville's famous Whiskey Row, and when Prohibition shut down most distilleries, Brown-Forman received a government license to keep producing Old Forester for medicinal purposes. After repeal in 1933, it became the only bourbon continuously sold by the same company before, during, and after Prohibition. The 1870 Original Batch is the tribute to the very beginning of that story, launched in 2014.

Why "Original Batch"?

What made Brown's whiskey different in 1870 was batching. Instead of selling whiskey barrel by barrel, which led to inconsistent flavor, he combined barrels from three distilleries to create a consistent flavor profile. That idea became a foundation of the modern bourbon industry. Old Forester 1870 echoes that process today: barrels are selected from three warehouses, each barrel from a different day of production, with a different entry proof and a different age profile. Those three expressions are batched together and minimally filtered. The result is a bourbon that represents three distinct aspects of Old Forester in one bottle.

How Old Forester 1870 Is Made

Old Forester uses a classic mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, fermented with the brand's proprietary yeast and roughly 20% sour mash. The mash is distilled in a tall copper column still and aged in new charred American oak barrels. As a straight bourbon, the batch is at least four years old. It's bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), the same strength Brown would have recognized, and it carries a number of awards, including a Silver at the 2020 International Wine & Spirits Competition, Gold at the 2019 Whiskies of the World, and Master and Taste Master honors at the 2019 American Whiskey Masters.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Juicy apple and mandarin over silky honey, with subtle clove and nutmeg and a delicate, sweet honeysuckle character.

Palate: Balanced and elegant, with crisp apple and a citrus fruit medley giving way to shortbread sweetness, bright vanilla, and subtle clove and cinnamon.

Finish: Soft, with lingering fruit and spice.

Food Pairings

The apple, citrus, and honey character of Old Forester 1870 pairs well with grilled chicken, roast pork, and honey-glazed ham. It also goes well with shortbread cookies, apple pie, and aged cheddar, and its clove and cinnamon spice complements cinnamon rolls or spiced nuts.

Serving Suggestions

At a lighter 90 proof, Old Forester 1870 is easy to sip neat, but the brand also recommends it on the rocks or in a classic Old Fashioned, where its citrus and spice shine. A single cube will open up the fruit and clove notes. It's a good starting point for anyone new to Old Forester or the Whiskey Row Series.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Old Forester 1870 Original Batch? The first release in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series, a 90 proof straight bourbon blended from barrels from three warehouses.

What proof is it? 90 proof (45% ABV).

What is the mash bill? 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley.

How is it different from regular Old Forester? It uses the brand's historic three-warehouse batching method, with barrels chosen for different production days, entry proofs, and ages, and it is minimally filtered.

Is it a limited release? No, it's a permanent part of the Whiskey Row Series.

Who created Old Forester? George Garvin Brown, in 1870, on Louisville's Whiskey Row.

What are the other Whiskey Row Series bottles? 1897 Bottled in Bond, 1910 Old Fine Whisky, and 1920 Prohibition Style.

Explore More

Want to continue the series? Try the Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon Whisky for a bold 115 proof take on Prohibition-era bourbon, or the Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky, a double-barreled expression. Browse our full Bourbon collection for more Kentucky bourbons.

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