Old Forester Rye Review

Good whiskey, great value. Hard to beat this at the price point.

Type: Straight Rye Whiskey

Distillery: Old Forester

Proof: 100 proof

Age: Not stated

Retail: I paid $24

Appearance

Dark bronze. It almost has a cloudy look, though there is no visible sediment floating anywhere.

Nose

This nose is much bolder than I expected. Citrus notes and honey come forward first. Florals and more sweetness follow that up. At the tail end there is a slight medicinal alcohol note, maybe more similar to nail polish remover. It's very slight, so it's not a concern before the first sip.

Palate

The sweetness continues here. Honey, more florals and fruit. It's sweeter and less spicy than a typical rye, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your preference. The fruit flavor is fairly unique. I'd say it most closely resembles grapes, which is a first for me in a bourbon or rye. The spice that is there is in the form of clove and pepper. Overall, it's unique and smooth, though not quite as bold as the nose led me to expect.

Finish

Short to medium, with oak, caramelized sugar and rye spice prevalent.

Overall

For the price point, this bottle is pretty good. It's not going to replace top shelf ryes as a favorite, but I don't think that is a fair expectation for a $24 bottle. It does perform very well when compared to other options in this price range, and I'd say it would compete favorably against ryes in the $40-50 range as well. It has some unique flavor notes, but I do wish it had a little more kick. The whiskey is good, and the value is great, so overall I have to say this is a winner for Old Forester.

Rating

3.50/5

Rating Scale:

This is a general guide of what I consider each score range

4.75 - 5.00: Phenomenal. Hard to imagine anything better. Acquire at any cost

4.25 - 4.50: Excellent. I'll camp out to get a bottle if necessary

3.75 - 4.00: Great stuff. I'll buy backups if not too expensive

3.25 - 3.50: Good stuff. Try to keep one on the bar, but don't spend too much

2.75 - 3.00: Not bad. I don't regret the purchase, but may not buy another

2.25 - 2.50: Sub-par. I regret the purchase. Reserved for mixed drinks.

1.75 - 2.00: Bad. I'll struggle to finish the bottle. May not want it in cocktails.

0.00 - 1.50: Drain-pour. Something seems wrong with it. Get it aw