Old Forester 117 Series Scotch Cask Finish Batch 001 Straight Bourbon Whisky 375ml

Old Forester 117 Series Scotch Cask Finish Batch 001 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky arrives at a precise 93 proof (46.5% ABV) in a 375ml bottle, a highly innovative and culturally significant expression within Old Forester's limited 117 Series from Louisville, Kentucky. Released in December 2023 by Brown-Forman's founding brand - America's first bottled bourbon, sealed and signed by George Garvin Brown in 1870 - Scotch Cask Finish marks a dedicated study in transatlantic heritage and secondary barrel aging. This specialized batch pays a deeply personal homage to the brand's founding family history, intentionally celebrating the proud Scottish roots and Gaelic ancestry of George Garvin Brown by pairing classic American distillation with specialized casks imported directly from northeastern Scotland.

The name describes a targeted secondary maturation period inside historic single malt containers rather than an engineered flavor modifier. To build this distinct flavor profile, the distillery team took fully matured straight bourbon whiskey and finished it inside select secondary casks sourced from the famous Speyside region around the River Spey. These specific barrels were chosen because they previously held single malt scotch that was matured in both sherry and wine casks. This complex wood treatment highlights how old-world European oak alters the spirit, using the residual fruit elements to naturally draw out and elevate the sweet, ester-forward characteristics produced during fermentation by Old Forester's proprietary yeast strain at DSP-KY-354.

In the glass, the official tasting notes open with unique aromas of subtle smoky char and sweet milk chocolate drizzled over rich shortbread cookies, accompanied by an aromatic undertone of mulled, spiced fruit. A velvety, balanced, and deeply decadent texture coats the palate with dominant flavors of warm baked apples and mixed dried fruits while layers of rich toffee, cinnamon, and toasted almonds add incredible texture against a distinct back-palette of soft smoky char. Scotch Cask Finish joins a 117 Series lineup - named for the brand's original address at 117 W. Main St. and launched in 2021 - that includes 1910 Extra Extra Old, Whiskey Row Fire, and High Angels' Share.

For collectors, Batch 001 carries weight beyond the liquid as a first-edition exploration of imported scotch cask influence on the brand's traditional mash bill. The 117 Series remains Old Forester's experimental canvas, bottled exclusively in the distinctive 375ml format and released in limited quantities through the Old Forester Distillery gift shop on historic Whiskey Row and select boutique Kentucky retailers, which keeps every experimental batch highly scarce beyond the Bluegrass State. As a flawless marriage of traditional Kentucky bourbon craftsmanship and the historic nuances of Speyside finishing, Scotch Cask Finish Batch 001 stands as an essential, boundary-pushing chapter in Old Forester's modern history and a natural cornerstone for any serious spirits collection.

• Size: 375ml
• Proof: 93 (46.5% ABV)
• Age: No age statement
• Origin: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
• Distillery: Old Forester Distillery (Brown-Forman), DSP-KY-354
• Whisky Type: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
• Series: The 117 Series (launched 2021)
• Batch: 001
• Barrel/Char Treatment: Uniquely finished in imported Speyside Scotch Whisky casks previously used for sherry and wine maturation
• Curator/Master Distiller: Melissa Rift, Master Taster
• Tasting Notes: Nose: smoky char, milk chocolate, shortbread, mulled spiced fruit; Palate: baked apples, dried fruits, rich toffee, cinnamon, toasted almonds; Finish: silky, buttery, cocoa, baking spices, earthy oak