Old Forester Drops New 117 Series Scotch Cask Finish (and We Tasted It)

Posted on by Scott Dilley

Old Forester 117 Series highlights innovation with Kentucky Bourbon finished in Scotch barrels from Brown-Forman’s whisky portfolio.

It was a very Scottish morning on Whiskey Row in Downtown Louisville Tuesday. Old Forester treated guests to the sounds of bagpipes and drums as they braved to cold morning in anticipation of Old Forester’s latest edition of its 117 Series. The new release honors Founder George Garvin Brown’s Scottish heritage by leveraging used Scotch casks sourced and matured in northeastern Scotland. We got an early taste before the doors opened to the public thanks to Master Taster Melissa Rift and the rest of the Brown-Forman team. Read on for all the details, including Scott’s tasting notes, on this new bourbon release.

Fast Facts on 117 Series Scotch Cask Finish:

  • Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
  • Finish: Finished in Scotch Whisky casks from The GlenDronach, Benriach, and Glenglassaugh distilleries.
  • Age: 4-6 Year Kentucky Boubrons finished for almost 2 years.
  • Proof: 93 (46.5% ABV)
  • Price: $59.99 / 375 mL
  • Availability: Released 10am on December 12 at Old Forester Distillery. Limited bottles may be available in gift shop for visitors and tour guests.
  • Bourbon Lens Tasting Notes: On the nose, notes of vanilla cake and candied cherries. The palate is dessert-like with clear influence from the Sherry cask. Vanilla/shortbread cookies, Sherry, fruitcake, and wood char. This whiskey surprisingly drinks much warmer than it’s 93 proof. A nice, special bourbon for the Holidays which are right around the corner.
  • Downtown Outside Old Forester
  • Old Forester Still
  • Bag Pipers to celebrate the release

Full Press Release from Old Forester:

Today, Old Forester® announces the newest release in its 117 series – Scotch Cask Finish, a 93-proof liquid that honors George Garvin Brown’s Scottish heritage.

This limited-edition bottle celebrates Brown’s Gaelic roots with the sherry and wine barrels sourced and matured from the protected Speyside region around the River Spey in northeastern Scotland. The cask finish highlights Old Forester’s natural fruit character which is a result of fermentation with the oldest yeast strain.

This release is special to the family history our brand was built on. We‘ve been creating top-quality, rare and innovative expressions for 150 years, and this scotch whiskey captures our founder’s spirit in another rich and smooth liquid, which I recommend serving neat.

Old Forester Master Taster Melissa Rift

Scotch Cask Finish marks the latest installment in the 117 Series, a limited-expression lineup that debuted in Spring 2021 and focuses on innovation and experimentation. 

Old Forester 117 Series: Scotch Cask Finish is bottled at 93-proof and is available starting today (December 12) at the retail shop at Old Forester Distilling Co. and at select Kentucky stores.  The suggested retail price is $59.99.

Old Forester Tasting Notes:

  • Nose- subtle hints of smoky char, milk chocolate drizzled over shortbread accompanied by mulled, spiced fruit 
  • Taste- baked apples and dried fruits with rich notes of toffee, cinnamon and chocolate rounded out by toasted almonds and smoky char 
  • Finish- silky and buttery with cocoa and baking spices lingering into an earthy and oaky finish 

For more information on Old Forester, please visit OldForester.com.

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