Old Forester 117 Series: Prohibition Era Still Proof Bourbon Review

 

January 16, 1919, was a dark day for America. The 18th Amendment prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of intoxicating liquors in the United States. The Volstead Act was enacted to establish the guidelines for enforcing the 18th Amendment. On January 16, 1920, America went dry. Well, it went mostly dry.

 

Like many laws that strip people of their freedoms, Prohibition allowed for exceptions and exemptions. Physicians were permitted to prescribe limited amounts of whiskey to patients. As you would suspect, you had to go to a pharmacist to get a prescription filled. That being said, a pharmacist would have to obtain said medicinal whiskey from a distillery, which meant some distilleries needed to remain open. You could only purchase small amounts, and the labels required a For Medicinal Purposes Only statement.

 

A total of six distilleries were granted licenses to distill whiskey. The rest were shuttered or converted to other purposes. One of those allowed to continue operations was Old Forester.

 

In 1929, Old Forester was granted a 100-day distilling holiday to replenish its dwindling stocks from 1920. During that time, the whiskey that came off the stills was 130°.

 

Thankfully, this godawful experiment with nannyism was repealed on December 5, 1933, with the 21^st Amendment. However, Old Forester recently released its newest, limited-edition Bourbon, Series 117: Prohibition Era Still Proof, to pay homage to the whiskey made during that 100-day distilling holiday. It is packaged at 130°.

 

“This release is a tribute to the ingenuity that allowed Old Forester to endure and emerge stronger during one of the most challenging periods for American whiskey. This Bourbon offers a glimpse into the intensity and authenticity of our Prohibition heritage.” – Caleb Trigo, Assistant Master Distiller

 

Prohibition Era Still Proof is available at Old Forester’s online store at the distillery and at select Kentucky retailers. Should you rush to get one? To answer that, we’ll have to do the #DrinkCurious thing. Before I do, I must thank Old Forester for providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

• Whiskey Type: Bourbon
• Distiller: Old Forester
• Age: NAS
• Mashbill: 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon #4 charred-oak barrels
• Alcohol Content: 65% ABV (130°)
• Price per 375mL: $64.99

 

Appearance: I used a Glencairn glass to explore this Bourbon neat. The liquid was dark, like burnt sienna. A thin, jagged rim discharged a curtain of wavy, fast tears.

 

Nose: I ignored the glass for about 15 minutes, giving it ample time to oxidize. When I finally brought the glass to my nose and inhaled, I smelled notes of cherry pie filling, cinnamon, oak, chocolate, and leather. When I took the air into my mouth, I encountered a punch of toffee.

 

Palate: My first sip revealed a full-bodied, thick texture. I found warmth, but it lacked any real palate-shock. On the front, I tasted dark chocolate, leather, and shredded tobacco. The mid-palate offered toffee, nutmeg, and cherries. Dense oak, clove, and espresso hit the back of my palate.

 

Finish: Espresso, clove, oak, cherries, dark chocolate, and tobacco remained in my mouth and throat. It was level; the chocolate was the last note to fall off. After everything was said and done, a gentle cherry kiss came from nowhere and disappeared just as fast. The duration ran 2:29, making it very, very long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Price-wise, Prohibition Era Still Proof is in line with much of the 117 Series Bourbons.

 

Prohibition Era Still Proof isn’t your run-of-the-mill Old Forester. It was a bolder expression than I’m used to, and less fruity (at least in my mouth). I am not suggesting the proof was too much because it wasn’t. If anything, Prohibition Era Still Proof drank perhaps ten points below what the label said. I mean, this is a spicier, more savory whiskey than Old Forester typically offers.

 

There’s plenty of character here, and if we were still living under Prohibition, I would find a way to have some “chronic condition” and visit my doctor as soon as possible. I enjoyed what was in my glass immensely. I believe it is worth picking up (assuming it is still available), and it earns every bit of 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.