Old Forester 1910 Extra Extra Old Bourbon Review (2025 Release)

 

Photo courtesy of Old Forester

In 2012, Old Forester released a Bourbon that had been codenamed Batch 003. It started its life out as 1910 Old Fine Whisky from Series 117. 1910 Old Fine Whisky was intended to commemorate the October 22, 1910, distillery fire that shut down production. This commemoration was achieved by sending the matured whiskey into a new, toasted, and extremely charred oak barrel, designed to mimic the effects of the fire.

 

Batch 003 took things a step further. It extended that second maturation for a full two years. Old Forester gave it an official name of 1910 Extra Extra Old.

 

“This Bourbon exemplifies our innovative spirit at Old Forester by taking something great and making it even better. The additional maturation leveraged to produce this release unlocks incredibly robust and distinctive flavor.” - Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo

 

Like 1910 Old Fine Whisky, Extra Extra Old is bottled at 93°.

 

I reviewed the original 1910 Extra Extra Old in 2012. If you’re interested, the link to that review is here. Unfortunately, I don’t have any of it left to do a side-by-side comparison. Likely, however, there are nuances since these aren’t the same batch.

 

So, let’s #DrinkCurious and discover what this Bourbon is all about. I would also like to thank Old Forester for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.  

 

• Whiskey Type: Straight Bourbon
• Distiller: Old Forester
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: Maturation in new, #4 charred oak 53-gallon barrels, finished 24 months in new, heavily charred oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 46.5% ABV (93°)
• Price per 375mL: $64.99 (Available at the distillery, its online store, and at select Kentucky stores)

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. Its color was deep, dark, and almost mysterious. It had a reddish hue. A fragile rim formed, then collapsed back to the pool. A random pattern of fat droplets stuck to the wall.

 

Nose: I gave Extra Extra Old about 15 minutes to breathe. When I approached it, the Bourbon’s aroma smelled of black cherries, milk chocolate, toffee, charcoal, and hazelnuts. I took that air into my mouth and discovered toasted coconuts.  

 

Palate: Extra Extra Old’s texture was light and silky. Black cherries, ripe plums, and roasted almonds raced out of the gate and commanded my attention. Casually cruising across my mid-palate were toasted coconuts, toffee, and milk chocolate. Tastes of cinnamon, charred oak, and tobacco glided to the back.

 

Finish: The mouthfeel went from silky to creamy by the time the finish kicked in. At this point, the oak influence kicked into high gear. It wasn’t over-oaked, but it also wasn’t subtle. The cinnamon, milk chocolate, and cherries seemed to be in perfect balance. The finish ran a very long 2:34.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: After I jotted down my tasting notes, I read my review of the 2022 version. There were several similarities, including stone fruits, chocolate, and coconut. Yet, I found noticeable differences, particularly in the absence of big, roasted coffee notes that were present in the older version. Also, the finish on the latter eclipsed the former in its length.

 

There’s a $5 premium for the 2025 version, which is not surprising. Inflation has had a significant impact on our economy over the last three years. I enjoyed what I tasted; based upon my tasting notes, I would have preferred the original. But, that’s neither here nor there; we can’t bring back something that’s long gone.

 

After saying that, I wish this were a regular offering from Old Forester, because the 1910 Extra Extra Old is a delicious pour. If I read the press release correctly, this will be an annual offering, so there’s that.

 

The big question here is, Would I pay $64.99 for a 375mL? There’s plenty of value here and I believe it deserves my Bottle rating. Cheers!

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.