Old Forester Unveils 1924: A Tribute to Tradition and Innovation in Bourbon Making
Old Forester, under the Brown-Forman umbrella, introduces 1924, a distinguished 10-year-old Bourbon featuring a novel mashbill that deviates from the brand’s traditional composition. This new expression comprises 79% corn, 11% rye, and 10% malted barley, marking a departure from the brand’s customary 72% corn and 18% rye bill, making it the fifth expression in the series and the oldest to date.
The whiskey pays homage to the 100th anniversary of Old Forester’s acquisition of barrels from closed distilleries, necessitating different mashbills for bottling. During Prohibition, Old Forester obtained one of six permits to continue whiskey production for medicinal purposes. In 1924, four years into Prohibition, Owsley Brown, George Garvin Brown’s eldest son, began receiving these barrels.
Master taster Melissa Rift expressed her honor in commemorating this historic milestone with a new featured mashbill and a splendid 10-year age statement. Old Forester 1924, bottled at 50% ABV and priced at US$115, displays enticing notes of chocolate-covered graham cracker dusted with cinnamon, complemented by aromas of fudge, cured tobacco, and rich oak.
This new addition enriches the Whiskey Row series, joining 1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond, 1910 Old Fine Whisky, and 1920 Prohibition Style, each highlighting pivotal moments in Old Forester’s 153-year history.
In November, Old Forester’s 150th-anniversary decanters sold out in a mere 14 minutes, each priced at US$2,500 and exclusively available on the brand’s website, following Brown-Forman’s 9% decrease in brand sales, amidst a 2% increase across the company’s broader portfolio.
