| Category | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky |
|---|---|
| Country | Region | Louisville, Kentucky | United States |
| Distillery | Brown-Forman / Old Forester |
| Age statement | 10 years |
| Alcohol % | Proof | 50% | 100 pf |
| Release | January 2026, third annual edition |
| Mash bill | 79% corn, 11% rye, 10% malted barley |
| Cask type | New charred American oak; char level not disclosed |
| Price point | $125 - $175 |
| Bottle status | Active |
Old Forester 1924 10-Year-Old | 2026 Release
Appearance / Color
Deep reddish amber with bronze highlights and slow, substantial legs
Nose / Aroma / Smell
Black cherry and plum arrive first, joined by raspberry, brown sugar, vanilla, and burnt butterscotch. With rest, darker layers of cocoa, toasted nuts, cured tobacco, charred oak, and baking spice emerge. The aroma is rich and mature with little distracting ethanol.
Flavor / Taste / Palate
Dark cherry, red currant, cranberry, and plum form a juicy opening. Dark chocolate, caramelized sugar, sweet oak, toasted pecan, cinnamon, and allspice build through the middle. The texture is oily and full, giving the whiskey a presence closer to a higher-proof bourbon.
Finish
Medium in length and progressively drier. Graham cracker, barrel char, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, and seasoned oak replace much of the early fruit. Tobacco and dark chocolate linger quietly after the spice recedes.
Old Forester 1924 commemorates the brand’s acquisition and bottling of whiskey from shuttered distilleries during Prohibition. Its higher-corn, lower-rye recipe differs from Old Forester’s standard 72/18/10 mash bill and gives the expression a softer spice profile with an especially concentrated red-fruit character. The 2026 release pushes black cherry, plum, cranberry, and currant to the foreground while retaining the mature oak, chocolate, tobacco, and graham-cracker character associated with the series. It carries more weight and flavor intensity than its 100 proof might suggest. Overall Impression A fruit-forward, mature Old Forester with an excellent nose, substantial mouthfeel, and a satisfying sweet-to-dry progression. The finish is shorter than the aroma and palate promise, but repeated sips allow the oak and baking spice to accumulate. The 2026 edition is widely regarded as one of the strongest releases in the series, although its $120 price remains the chief point of debate. Community Reception The strongest praise centers on the vivid red fruit, complex nose, viscous texture, and balance at 100 proof. Several drinkers prefer it to the 2024 and 2025 editions. Less enthusiastic reactions describe the finish as brief or the palate as slightly diluted beside Old Forester 1920 and barrel-strength releases. Multiple accounts also suggest that the bottle improves after opening or after a longer rest in the glass. Comparable Tasting Context Pour it beside Old Forester 1920 to contrast mature fruit and polished oak against higher-proof intensity. Knob Creek 12 offers a useful age-and-proof comparison with a nuttier, caramel-driven profile. Michter’s 10 Bourbon and Jack Daniel’s 10 or 12 Year provide additional context for flavorful, mature bourbon near 100 proof.
Old Forester 1924 10-Year-Old | 2026 Release
- Category
- Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky
- Distillery
- Brown-Forman / Old Forester
- Country | Region
- Louisville, Kentucky | United States
- Age Statement
- 10 years
- Alcohol / Proof
- 50% / 100 pf
- Price Point
- $125 - $175
- Mash Bill
- 79% corn, 11% rye, 10% malted barley
- Cask Type
- New charred American oak; char level not disclosed
- Release
- January 2026, third annual edition
Appearance
Deep reddish amber with bronze highlights and slow, substantial legs
Nose
Black cherry and plum arrive first, joined by raspberry, brown sugar, vanilla, and burnt butterscotch. With rest, darker layers of cocoa, toasted nuts, cured tobacco, charred oak, and baking spice emerge. The aroma is rich and mature with little distracting ethanol.
Palate
Dark cherry, red currant, cranberry, and plum form a juicy opening. Dark chocolate, caramelized sugar, sweet oak, toasted pecan, cinnamon, and allspice build through the middle. The texture is oily and full, giving the whiskey a presence closer to a higher-proof bourbon.
Finish
Medium in length and progressively drier. Graham cracker, barrel char, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, and seasoned oak replace much of the early fruit. Tobacco and dark chocolate linger quietly after the spice recedes.
Old Forester 1924 commemorates the brand’s acquisition and bottling of whiskey from shuttered distilleries during Prohibition. Its higher-corn, lower-rye recipe differs from Old Forester’s standard 72/18/10 mash bill and gives the expression a softer spice profile with an especially concentrated red-fruit character. The 2026 release pushes black cherry, plum, cranberry, and currant to the foreground while retaining the mature oak, chocolate, tobacco, and graham-cracker character associated with the series. It carries more weight and flavor intensity than its 100 proof might suggest. Overall Impression A fruit-forward, mature Old Forester with an excellent nose, substantial mouthfeel, and a satisfying sweet-to-dry progression. The finish is shorter than the aroma and palate promise, but repeated sips allow the oak and baking spice to accumulate. The 2026 edition is widely regarded as one of the strongest releases in the series, although its $120 price remains the chief point of debate. Community Reception The strongest praise centers on the vivid red fruit, complex nose, viscous texture, and balance at 100 proof. Several drinkers prefer it to the 2024 and 2025 editions. Less enthusiastic reactions describe the finish as brief or the palate as slightly diluted beside Old Forester 1920 and barrel-strength releases. Multiple accounts also suggest that the bottle improves after opening or after a longer rest in the glass. Comparable Tasting Context Pour it beside Old Forester 1920 to contrast mature fruit and polished oak against higher-proof intensity. Knob Creek 12 offers a useful age-and-proof comparison with a nuttier, caramel-driven profile. Michter’s 10 Bourbon and Jack Daniel’s 10 or 12 Year provide additional context for flavorful, mature bourbon near 100 proof.
Old Forester 1924 10-Year-Old | 2026 Release tasting sheet