Old Forester 117 Rum Cask Finish Bourbon is part of a special series from Old Forester that tries different ways of making bourbon.
Earlier releases included an 8-year-old bottled bourbon, a double oak finish, and others like Scotch.
For the 117 release, which came out in July 2024, Old Forester aged their bourbon in rum casks for about 6 months.
It’s unclear if they used the high-quality barrels from the Whiskey Row line or the regular barrels used in other Old Forester products.
Old Forester 117 Rum Finish is a special whisky from the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Old Forester is famous for making high-quality bourbon with a long history.
The 117 Rum Finish is a unique version that mixes Old Forester’s classic bourbon with a rum cask finish, giving it a different taste.
The process starts with Old Forester’s regular bourbon, aged in American oak barrels.
After that, the whisky is moved to rum casks for a final aging period.
This extra time in rum casks adds extra flavors like sweetness, spice, and tropical fruit.
The result is a smooth and balanced whisky with a special rum flavor that makes it stand out from regular bourbons.
Old Forester 117 Rum Finish has bold flavors of vanilla, caramel, and oak, with added touches from the rum cask.
It’s a limited-edition whisky, so it’s a special treat for those who like trying different kinds of whiskies.
For whisky lovers in India, Old Forester 117 Rum Finish is a great option to try a bourbon with more flavor, combining traditional American whisky with the taste of Caribbean rum.
It’s perfect for those who want to try something different from regular whisky.
I haven’t had much experience with Old Forester’s 117 Series, and the two versions I’ve tried didn’t impress me.
But I do appreciate that this experimental line exists, especially in 375ml bottles.
I understand that experimental releases can have both hits and misses.
These kinds of releases are important for the industry because they help cover the costs of research and development.
Sometimes, an experimental release is a big success, creating excitement and encouraging more innovation.
This release is made with Old Forester bourbon, aged for at least four years, and then finished in rum barrels for about six months.
The source of the rum barrels isn’t mentioned, but they were used to age rum for at least four years before.
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The scent starts with honey and orange, along with vanilla, roasted oak, apricot, cinnamon, nutmeg, mango, pineapple, and black tea.
It reminds me of a Jamaican rum because of the strong orange and tropical fruit notes like mango and pineapple.
This bourbon is different from other Old Forester versions I’ve tried.
The smell is fresh and tropical, with a slight sweetness from dark fruit underneath, but it’s not very rich or complex.
After resting, I noticed honey, orange, mango, vanilla, roasted oak, cinnamon, clove, and banana, along with tropical fruit notes and a stronger oaky bourbon scent.
The Old Forester 117 Rum Cask Finish has a mix of tropical fruit and oak flavors, with hints of honey, orange, cinnamon, vanilla, and roasted oak.
Although the rum finish adds tropical fruit, the bourbon feels less smooth and complex than other Old Forester 117 releases.
The bourbon tastes more spicy and oaky than expected, and the rum finish doesn’t do enough to balance the younger bourbon.
The aftertaste is mainly oak, dried orange peel, and a bit of floral notes.
While it’s pleasant, the Old Forester 117 Rum Cask Finish doesn’t feel particularly memorable.
The finish of this whisky has a mix of spices and dried orange slices, giving it a unique and strong aftertaste.
It also has a nutty flavor, like banana bread, with hints of black pepper and toasted wood.
Occasionally, there’s a slight soapy taste, which adds something extra to the overall flavor.
Check the Detailed Review of Eagle Rare 10-Year Bourbon Whiskey 2024.
1870 – Founding of Old Forester:
Old Forester was started in 1870 by George Garvin Brown in Louisville, Kentucky.
It was the first bourbon brand sold in sealed bottles, ensuring each bottle had the same quality.
Over time, Old Forester became a well-known and respected name in the bourbon world.
2019 – Launch of Old Forester 117 Series:
In 2019, Old Forester introduced the “117 Series,” a special collection to try new ways of aging bourbon.
The goal was to experiment with different flavors and aging methods.
2021 – Old Forester 117 Rum Finish Whisky:
One of the key releases in the 117 Series was the Old Forester 117 Rum Finish Whisky, launched in 2021.
This whisky is first aged in bourbon barrels, then finished in rum barrels, giving it a sweet and spicy taste.
The rum barrels add flavors of tropical fruit, molasses, and spices, making it a unique twist on Old Forester’s regular bourbon.
2022 – Popularity and Recognition:
After its release, Old Forester 117 Rum Finish became very popular among whisky lovers.
Its unique flavor and the reputation of Old Forester made it a hit.
People praised its smooth taste and how the rum finish blended with the bold bourbon flavor.
Present Day:
Today, Old Forester 117 Rum Finish is still part of the 117 Series, which features different and exciting finishes.
It remains a favorite choice for collectors and those who enjoy unique, high-quality bourbons.
Also, Check out the Jack Daniels 10 Year Batch 2 Review 2024.
The latest release in the Old Forester 117 Series has a noticeable rum flavor, but it’s mainly dry.
The 117 Series is known for offering special and unique whiskey releases.
For this version, the bourbon was aged in rum barrels that were at least 4 years old for about 6 months.
At first, the whiskey has pleasant flavors like brown butter, raisin, banana souffle, and rum-soaked oak.
As you continue tasting, the flavor becomes drier, with hints of tannic oak, peanut, and dry raisin, and the dry oak taste stands out at the end.
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