View Full Version : Old Forester 2009 B-Day Bourbon
spun_cookie
09-19-2009, 18:15
Old Forester 2009 B-Day Bourbon
Nose:
Odd… must and baby dippers were my first impression as I waved it past my nose..
Well, the second wave is rye and then back to that baby dipper plastic smell… this is not encouraging…
As it opens I get more of the Old Forester nose in it, but there is still a lot of off scents…
Not looking forward to the taste…
Taste:
Well, the taste is better that the nose… I get some of that 04 and 06 B-Day taste here….
There is still off notes here that do not make me smile… but it is more drinkable than smellable
Finish:
ooow…. Not so good. Has that plastic and funk finish. Damn… The second taste is worse than the first… the third made me almost gag… WTF
Overall / other
OK Bird, thanks for the 50ml sample… I hope you pissed in this, because if they bottled it like this they should fire the taters…
This might be the worse bourbon I have ever had... and I have had the WR FG and SC so I know bad whiskey....
I opened mine last night.
My first impression from the nose was, 40 bucks down the drain.
First taste, hot, I screwed up, I should have known better after my only other bottle of the 2003.
I swirled it around in a crystal Glencairn for a while and tried it again.
Hint of apples very faint, still hot.
Next taste, ouzo, hmmm, never had hot ouzo.
Finally after a while I did get an underlining of dry Nestles chocolate powder mix for milk, so it does improve with time and air.
I set it aside and poured myself a Four Roses Single Barrel.
Damn!!! I thought, that Old Forester does suck!
I hope he doesn't have another birthday.
Got a bottle of this for my father since his 60th birthday was the day that the local stores got this in stock. Maybe I shouldn't let him open it as he may get the wrong idea about my tribute to him.
John Hansell gave it a 78 rating, that's real low for Malt Advocate.
jburlowski
09-20-2009, 17:50
Thanks for confirming my impressions about the entry taste. I, too, find something odd there although I'm not sure I would describe it as harshly as Spun Cookie does.
It just seems like some sort of off, foreign note. Just can't put my finger (or taste buds) on it to identify it clearly. On Hansell's site I concurred with the low 78 score based on this strange taste.
Overall, I found the bourbon to be OK --- but certainly not at the premium price. It clearly is a disappointment; particularly after last year's sensational expression.
I wonder what the heck is going on here?
MTBottle
09-20-2009, 19:28
John Hansell gave it a 78 rating, that's real low for Malt Advocate.
Where do you find the bourbon ratings on Malt Advocate? (That site is tough to navigate, IMO.)
Mark
callmeox
09-20-2009, 19:48
Current reviews are on John's blog.
Here's the OFBB review (http://blog.maltadvocate.com/2009/09/02/review-old-forester-birthday-bourbon-2009-release/)
MTBottle
09-21-2009, 06:02
Current reviews are on John's blog.
Here's the OFBB review (http://blog.maltadvocate.com/2009/09/02/review-old-forester-birthday-bourbon-2009-release/)
Thanks, callmeox. After clicking on the link in your post, I realized I was looking for John Hansell's review at the wrong site. No wonder I couldn't find his review! Duh!
Mark
Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't have passed on those 08s I saw all over the place last week in favor of picking up the 2009.
I currently have the 2007 open and it's damn good. Not as good as the '08 by any means, but still really good. That 08 is epic.
Virus_Of_Life
09-21-2009, 08:45
Very disappointing to read this.
I am, BTW, moving this thread to the Premium/Specialty forum.
birdman1099
09-21-2009, 13:48
OK Bird, thanks for the 50ml sample… I hope you pissed in this, because if they bottled it like this they should fire the taters…
If I would have pissed init, it would have gotten better !!!:slappin:
Remember, my piss is an extra aged, wheated bourbon at high proof !!!:grin:
I've now struck out twice on the Old Forester Birthday Bourbons.
My first bottle was the Spring 1990, bottled 2003.
I liked it at first but the more I drank the worse it got.
Now strike 2 is this current '09.
I think in the future I am going to work the count and take a walk.
******Later Edit******
I'm sipping some now.
Good call Emerald, it does have a plastic baby diaper taste to it.
Wow, I'm happy I passed this up now
callmeox
09-21-2009, 17:04
I'm left wondering how folks here know what a plastic baby diaper tastes like. :bigeyes:
spun_cookie
09-21-2009, 17:21
I'm left wondering how folks here know what a plastic baby diaper tastes like. :bigeyes:
Not a used diaper, but the heavy scent from a box of them.. if you have kids you know the smell of a box of diapers.
Very distinct smell.
ErichPryde
09-21-2009, 17:27
Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't have passed on those 08s I saw all over the place last week in favor of picking up the 2009.
I currently have the 2007 open and it's damn good. Not as good as the '08 by any means, but still really good. That 08 is epic.
I liked the 07 a lot. If you think the 08 is epic, I will, without fail, go and grab a bottle before it disappears here in Wichita. I am seriously disappointed with what I am hearing of the 09... I'd love to try it for myself but I don't want to purchase a bottle if it is as bad as you guys are saying it is.
The Boozer
09-21-2009, 21:43
On another thread, Chuck says he liked it and appears to have given it a buy recommendation.
I havn't had any of the OFBB's yet but recently bouight the 08' on Josh's recommendation.
ErichPryde
09-21-2009, 21:46
On another thread, Chuck says he liked it and appears to have given it a buy recommendation.
I havn't had any of the OFBB's yet but recently bouight the 08' on Josh's recommendation.
Well, I thought the 07 was like... really rich, deep birthday cake with fruits and chocolate. thick. it was a special occasion kind of thing, somewhat spicy, sweet, deep- easy to drown in. I loved it. I'm going to go with Josh's recommendation and also pick up a bottle of the 08 when I have a chance...
independant
09-21-2009, 23:57
Well this is a huge disappointment. I was planning on buying an extra bottle of this to hold for me son's 21st birthday. I can see it now we sit down to have our first pour together and I produce this crap you smell that son that is what you smelled like as a baby. Lol. Oh well now I can look forward to hunting down a SB with his birth date.
ShewDawg
09-22-2009, 01:04
I had some at the KBF Gala and enjoyed it. It had different flavors than the 08, but good none the less. Now, I will need to go back and do some more extensive testing.
Honestly, everyone seemed to be coming back to it and they were constantly opening new cases of it to keep up with demand. The other folks around me liked it as well, but take it for what's it worth. If you have liked the last couple of OFBB versions, I think you will enjoy this as well.
:deadhorse:
I hate to beat a dead horse but this needs to be said.
I tried it again today and yes, as I originally said you can pick up notes of apples, ouzo and Nestles Quick, but you have to take small sips and wait and wait and search for it.
Another way to describe it is, imagine drinking a bourbon thru a hot wool blanket.
It truley tastes like that.
Old Forester, Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniels are just different branches from the same tree.
Early Times on the rocks is their best offering.
:deadhorse:
I hate to beat a dead horse but this needs to be said.
I tried it again today and yes, as I originally said you can pick up notes of apples, ouzo and Nestles Quick, but you have to take small sips and wait and wait and search for it.
Another way to describe it is, imagine drinking a bourbon thru a hot wool blanket.
It truley tastes like that.
Old Forester, Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniels are just different branches from the same tree.
Early Times on the rocks is their best offering.
a more moderate review, but still not a great one:
http://www.drinkhacker.com/2009/09/21/review-old-forester-birthday-bourbon-2009-edition/
It's telling that this lukewarm review was the best one they could find to put on their facebook page.
That said, you my man Oscar but I gotta strongly disagree re: the Old Forester. I think it, esp the Signature, is the best bargain in American whiskey, period. WR is a nice pour as well.
I'm not going to defend Jack tho.:blush:
I don't have any love of the B-F line, as many know, but I did like the sip of OFBB '08 I had. I think the 86 and the Signature especially are harsh and young and not to my taste.
I will be buying the 2009 OFBB if I find a bottle, it seems to be the best that B-F has to offer.
smokinjoe
09-22-2009, 19:06
I opened this up, and have been working on it the last two nights. I don't detect anything that I would consider "off". I didn't get the diapers, but there was a pretty big initial hit of alcohol. It eventually, wafted off. Mrs. Smokinjoe pulled a light lemony character in the nose. I got a little light floral smell. Maybe, like dried flowers or even talcum powder? Are you guys sure you're not confusing diapers, with the Diaper Genie, and it's odor fighting inserts? :D Nice enough, through the palate. The Old Forester profile does come through, here. It does, though, finish very dry. A goodly amount of wood. This is not a problem for me, as I don't mind very aged and dry bourbons.
All in all, it definitely is not my favorite OFBB. But, it is drinkable. I would agree that it's not one of their best efforts, but they've had plently of those, and they do intend for each year to be "different". So, maybe this 2009 iteration might not be for some, but I don't think it will be offensive to many.
whgaunce@alltel.
09-23-2009, 06:07
I certainly am no expert on bourbon though I do try to purchase some of every distiller's brand. It seems to me that the issue should be the great variety that we can enjoy at this time. I detect a bias against Brown-Forman in many of the responses. If you visit the distilleries on a regular basis, as I do, you will find stinkers at every one from time to time whether it be Buffalo Trace experimental collection or Red Stag or Evan Williams honey liquer. Vive le difference! Regardless of our individual tastes, it is a great time to be a bourbon lover!
P.S. Latest bourbon purchased: Elmer T. Lee 90th Birthday bottle, Wild Turkey Kentucky Spirit, Knob Creek Bourbon Festifal bottling.
What I like about the Birthday Bourbon series can also be its problem, which is that they are all so different. It shows you how different one recipe can taste under different aging conditions. I only tasted the '09 briefly and agreed with the assessment of Chris Morris that it is much softer than many previous iterations. That's what he was going for in the selection, but I can see where it might fall flat for some people.
spun_cookie
09-23-2009, 09:17
What I like about the Birthday Bourbon series can also be its problem, which is that they are all so different. It shows you how different one recipe can taste under different aging conditions. I only tasted the '09 briefly and agreed with the assessment of Chris Morris that it is much softer than many previous iteration. That's what he was going for in the selection, but I can see where it might fall flat for some people.
Chuck,
I was hoping that my harsh review would have been flogged and it was really just a bad sample.
I have been a pseudo fan of the B-Days to date. The 05 and 07 were my favs of the bunch, but I have had all of them.
I liked some more than others and the 0X was not to my tastes. It was almost like the Handy, I could tell it was a good product, just not my wheel house.
There are subtle flavors in the 09, but the harsh chemical flavors surprised me dramatically. I am thinking of taking the remainder of the sample I have and trying it in a rocks glass to see if I can mute the harsh notes.
In a glass Glenclairn, the sample I have is undrickable...
callmeox
09-23-2009, 10:36
I liked some more than others and the 0X was not to my tastes.
Well, I'm not a huge fan of *yours* either. ;-)
spun_cookie
09-23-2009, 11:12
Well, I'm not a huge fan of *yours* either. ;-)
:D ... Errr that was suppose to be 08..m
Sorry oxxey
Virus_Of_Life
09-23-2009, 13:35
What I like about the Birthday Bourbon series can also be its problem, which is that they are all so different. It shows you how different one recipe can taste under different aging conditions. I only tasted the '09 briefly and agreed with the assessment of Chris Morris that it is much softer than many previous iterations. That's what he was going for in the selection, but I can see where it might fall flat for some people.
Chuck, I know I have read that many times previously and my palate is by no means in your class; however every one of them have strong similarities to me. They all are clearly, to me at least, OF profile bourbons and I just don't see THAT much difference in them. I guess that why we say YMMV.
Here's my review of bb09. I had a small taste, in a bar, after several cocktails, and I didn't have any problem with it. If that's damned-by-faint-praise, so be it. Don't take that as a big up arrow. It's actually <------> i.e., neutral, or, at best, a qualified not negative. But I have enjoyed every bb I have tasted in depth, so I'm waiting until I've had a bit more of 09 to render a real verdict.
And, yeah, I've never had one that didn't taste like Old Forester. That's the starting point.
Well my 2 bottles came in and I have to say it is fantastic stuff. Everything I expected from this annual release. Nothing but bourbon heaven in my bottle.
I immediatly thought WtKS when the nose hit me and the rest is just tons of flavor. I highly recommend picking up 2 or 3, if you can get that many. My store said they were only able to get 30 bottles.
DeanSheen
10-04-2009, 14:42
I dont know who to curse more, the NFL, Oscar or Virus of Life!
Completely tastes like the disposable diaper smell.
Oscar cursed me with a sample, and I took it to the Browns game where I found out that in the club seats, in all of the NFL, you cannot order a straight shot, it must be cut with 75% wash. So no Knob Creek for me....... or anyone. In all 50 states in a bar I can get a shot, just not in a NFL stadium.
Swigging the OFBB 2009 off a mini in the first quarter...... umm hideous. But I was forewarned, only tolerable because it was the only straight hooch I had access to. The 2009 product is nasty and I'm sorry in advance to anyone who purchased it.
jburlowski
10-04-2009, 16:11
I dont know who to curse more, the NFL, Oscar or Virus of Life!
Completely tastes like the disposable diaper smell.
Oscar cursed me with a sample, and I took it to the Browns game where I found out that in the club seats, in all of the NFL, you cannot order a straight shot, it must be cut with 75% wash. So no Knob Creek for me....... or anyone. In all 50 states in a bar I can get a shot, just not in a NFL stadium.
Swigging the OFBB 2009 off a mini in the first quarter...... umm hideous. But I was forewarned, only tolerable because it was the only straight hooch I had access to. The 2009 product is nasty and I'm sorry in advance to anyone who purchased it.
OK, I'm starting to get a little concerned with you guys and your apparent familiarity with the smell and taste of of a disposable diaper.
What exactly are you guys doing when you are not logged on here?:shithappens:
Virus_Of_Life
10-04-2009, 22:04
I dont know who to curse more, the NFL, Oscar or Virus of Life!
Whoa, where do I get in on the blame game here??
DeanSheen
10-05-2009, 06:36
^ whoops! Sorry VOL, I should be cursing Spun. He was dead on with the smell, I just didnt do a good job of checking my sources.
fenway68
10-09-2009, 17:54
Well...having just learned about the OF BB's, i was at a new shop I was passing by to see if they had anything I hadnt yet tried...
having not seen reviews for 2009, when i saw the OFBB bottle on the shelf, I immediately grabbed for it...quite dusty I thought, and the two behind it were just the same...hmm, this is supposed to be a new release? then I noticed..."2007"...
after reading this thread, I am glad I came home with what I did, rather than what I could have...I look forward to opening and enjoying, and tomorrow I head back to buy out their other two remaining dust covered bottles of '07 for gifts (for dad and a friend)...the shop-keep had no idea what he had on hand...
fenway68
Well...having just learned about the OF BB's, i was at a new shop I was passing by to see if they had anything I hadnt yet tried...
having not seen reviews for 2009, when i saw the OFBB bottle on the shelf, I immediately grabbed for it...quite dusty I thought, and the two behind it were just the same...hmm, this is supposed to be a new release? then I noticed..."2007"...
after reading this thread, I am glad I came home with what I did, rather than what I could have...I look forward to opening and enjoying, and tomorrow I head back to buy out their other two remaining dust covered bottles of '07 for gifts (for dad and a friend)...the shop-keep had no idea what he had on hand...
fenway68
After reading this thread you should not be able to make a proper decision about the 2009 B-Day bourbon. Only 2 people on here have actual bought a bottle for themselves and found nothing wrong with it.
The people you have heard bad mouthing it have been passing around samples of an obviously tainted bottle and has not been doing anyone, any good. Hell, that said sample was even reviewed on another prominent site.
I'm just saying you all are experienced enough to know bad bottles do exist, yet this one bad bottle is making everyone right off this entire year's stock. GO GET YOUR OWN BOTTLE AND MAKE YOUR OWN DIAGNOSES, Please!:rolleyes:
jburlowski
10-12-2009, 08:07
After reading this thread you should not be able to make a proper decision about the 2009 B-Day bourbon. Only 2 people on here have actual bought a bottle for themselves and found nothing wrong with it.
The people you have heard bad mouthing it have been passing around samples of an obviously tainted bottle and has not been doing anyone, any good. Hell, that said sample was even reviewed on another prominent site.
I'm just saying you all are experienced enough to know bad bottles do exist, yet this one bad bottle is making everyone right off this entire year's stock. GO GET YOUR OWN BOTTLE AND MAKE YOUR OWN DIAGNOSES, Please!:rolleyes:
I have to (somewhat) disagree. I gave it a ho-hum review here (http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showpost.php?p=179268&postcount=583). And I referenced the off entry note I noticed here (http://www.straightbourbon.com/forums/showpost.php?p=181025&postcount=5). And this was based on a bottle I purchased myself.
IMO, the 2009 is just not very good.
birdman1099
10-12-2009, 08:27
Yes John, I believe the consensus is, that bottling is not very good.
Don, it sounds like there will be plenty of bottles on the shelves for you, since it appears you enjoy the Plastic Diaper aroma in your drinks !!!!:slappin: :slappin: :slappin: :slappin: :slappin: :slappin:
Well I do have a new baby, so maybe I am just so used to the smell I can't detect it. If anyone wants a sample of mine to compare I can arrange that.
spun_cookie
10-12-2009, 11:16
Well I do have a new baby, so maybe I am just so used to the smell I can't detect it. If anyone wants a sample of mine to compare I can arrange that.
Don,
I would. It would be good to compair the two.
Don,
I would. It would be good to compair the two.
PM on it's way......
spun_cookie
11-01-2009, 19:23
PM on it's way......
Thanks to Dan I was able to compair his and Scott's. No question that Dan's is better (had the wife's help so I would not be bias... more bias :D).
If you like sour apple and some of the bitter type candies on the market today (skittles, now-n-laters, gummy worms, etc) this may be the juice for you.
Here are my head to head notes:
Scott’s
Nose – very young. Lots of off notes. As it opens some of the earth from Dan’s is there, but not near as much. There is a lot of corn with some wet plant smell (like house plants).
Dan’s
Nose - Not as young with a lot more depth. The young corn is covered nicely with some oak and earth. I get some touches of the chocolate that has been mentioned on this as it opens. There is some rye and some other spices.
Overall Nose:
Here is what is odd. If you let the two sit in the glass a while, Dan’s has more depth. Fruits (apples and pears are there), Scott’s is very one dimensional, but you do get some vanilla with the plastic diaper. If you swirl them and then smell… they are very very close.
Day’s is better, but you have to let it sit a min and then go at it…
Scott’s
Taste: - Sour apple to start with. Almost like those damn everlasting chewy candies… lots of tart, bitter apple. Dan’s is sour, this is bitter.
Dan’s
Taste – Good at first sip, then as it sits on the pallet there is a lot of sour apple. There is some earth here I do not get in Scott’s. It is definitely better, but not a juice I look forward to.
Overall Taste:
Because I was concerned about a potential bias, I let me why as these. I did not tell her they were the same of juice I did not care for. She helped nail the Sour verses bitter.
Scott’s
Finish -
Much like the taste with a touch of earth before the youth hits ya…
Dan’s
Finish – Bite and then sour and then some wet earth that lingers for a while before a medicinal alcohol flavor runs the others into the ground.
Overall – Overall
This bourbon is thin and one dimensional to me. I really have to let it sit in the glass to collect anything to get my teeth into and then the good parts last so shortly that you can miss them with the strong sour/bitter notes. The medicinal alcohol flavors are there in both and you never know which sip is going to kick you in the head with it. I would call this a full range bourbon with mystery at every turn, but it never floats into good or great flavors… really just OK to pour to not good at all and it lives in the other two areas for me.
Wow - you guys are a rough crowd. This might not be the best bourbon I've had, but I don't think it's anywhere as bad as you're making it out to be. Baby diapers? Apparently baby s**t is different than it was when my kids were babies twentysome years ago :) Yes, it's different, but I'm not going to mind finishing this bottle. If anyone wants to send me their leftovers, I'll take them (just don't pee in bottle!)
ErichPryde
11-08-2009, 22:48
Wow - you guys are a rough crowd. This might not be the best bourbon I've had, but I don't think it's anywhere as bad as you're making it out to be. Baby diapers? Apparently baby s**t is different than it was when my kids were babies twentysome years ago :) Yes, it's different, but I'm not going to mind finishing this bottle. If anyone wants to send me their leftovers, I'll take them (just don't pee in bottle!)
I think the reason that there was a really harsh critique is because someone somehow managed to pick up an off bottle. spun_cookie later compared two different bottles, and determined that the one he initially tasted was, for whatever reason, contaminated with disposable diaper. Perhaps someone has a sense of humor that puts fishnbowljoe and BBQ+Bourbon to shame, I'm not sure.
On another site Mike Veach gave 6 different bottles he's had a thumbs up and recommends the current OF B-Day bottling. He stated that it is far from "one dimensional" as someone put it and has good complexity. Don't let one bad bottle sway your decision on buying this expression. It is still a bourbon bargain at the $32 a bottle I got it for.
I finally had a chance to give the 09 a good tasting. I can see what some people might not like about it. There is very little of the candy notes that many bourbons, and even typical Old Forester, exhibit. It's slightly bitter with what I characterize as a dry wood note. It is 12-years-old and in some ways tastes older. It definitely leans toward the herbal side of the bourbon taste wheel.
One thing I like about the Birthday Bourbon series is that it's always different, sometimes very different. That's not what producers usually do. Even something like Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage strives for some continuity from year to year. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon doesn't. What Chris Morris is going for, I think, is more of a "that's interesting" reaction.
I'm not saying the people who dislike it are wrong, it's not for everyone, but I would hate for someone to be scared away from it because it got so many negative reviews here.
It's too bad. I loved the 2007 and was really hoping to jump on another good bottle of whiskey this go around. Guess I'll just put more coin down on the BTACs.
loose proton
11-09-2009, 16:23
...It is still a bourbon bargain at the $32 a bottle I got it for.
If it were $32 here, I'd go ahead and sample, and probably still may even though I'm not an Old Forester fan. It's $42 in my neck o' the wood, Virginia.
I finally had a chance to give the 09 a good tasting. I can see what some people might not like about it. There is very little of the candy notes that many bourbons, and even typical Old Forester, exhibit. It's slightly bitter with what I characterize as a dry wood note. It is 12-years-old and in some ways tastes older. It definitely leans toward the herbal side of the bourbon taste wheel.Does this year's OFBB have a maroon ribbon & label? If so, Dr. Entropy brought some over for me to taste & I liked it very much. I don't typically like Old Forester & "herbal" is probably my least favorite quality in a whiskey, but this was a very good, but not particularly remarkable, whiskey. It is definitely the best B-F product I've had and if it's truly $32 or so, I'll probably buy some if I see it.
ErichPryde
11-09-2009, 17:46
Does this year's OFBB have a maroon ribbon & label? If so, Dr. Entropy brought some over for me to taste & I liked it very much. I don't typically like Old Forester & "herbal" is probably my least favorite quality in a whiskey, but this was a very good, but not particularly remarkable, whiskey. It is definitely the best B-F product I've had and if it's truly $32 or so, I'll probably buy some if I see it.
....I..... I think the maroon ribbon was 2007.
edit: looks like 2009 may also have a maroon colored ribbon...?
Here (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gLJopL2jr3A/SvhOC-HbSqI/AAAAAAAAAGg/moUJxRypE9Y/s1600-h/old-forester-birthday-bourbon.jpg) is a picture. I guess you would call that maroon.
smokinjoe
11-10-2009, 16:51
Yeah, kinda maroonyish. Sorta the color of the booze inside. I think the big ID'er of the 2009 is that small oval label you see above the main label. There on the middle-partish, slopey, "shoulder",...t'aint...part of the bottle. I don't recall seeing a label there in previous years.
Two folks on the site sent me samples of 2009 OFBB... and wow their bottles are different to me.... however.... :rolleyes:
Here is the side by side (round one, initial thoughts)
Bottle 1 - Watery, lacking flavohis is the infamous "baby diaper" bottle. I get the baby diaper taste in the finish, but it's light. Just enough to be slightly off. Either way, not impressive bourbon to me. I would be bummed if I paid $20 for the bottle.
Bottle 2 - Thin, no real bourbon frs, then boom a short, hot finish with light plastic taste lingering behind. Tlavor at first, then wham a hit of cherry. Not good cherry, but cherry that made me think of cough syrup. Before I could see where it was going, it got very hot and sharp, then overwhelming plastic. Enough it made me have a weird face... more "baby diaper" then the other sample.
I'm going to wait an hour or so, then see where it's at for another small taste. I'm not trying to be a jerk if anyone likes it... it just doesn't hit what I'm looking for in bourbon, and that weird plastic taste on the back in creeps me out a bit.
smokinjoe
12-07-2009, 17:23
I've been playing around with this again, this evening. I continue to not find any "off" flavor to it. I still get the nose and initial flavor of dried flowers...maybe violets?...The big alcohol hit I reported in an earlier post is much lessened. A good airing out has benefitted, no doubt...A little mediciney...Along with the flowery aroma, maybe, this is where some get a baby diaper thing?.... Dunno...This certainly is a dry bourbon...With, definitely an Old Forester backbone...The more I go to this, the more I like it. It is distinct. And, maybe it's just that distinctness that doesn't work for some. That's cool. But, there's nothing "off" or "bad" to this bourbon, notwithstanding the possibility of a tainted bottle out there. All in all, where I originally didn't think this was one of OF's best offerings in the series, now that I've worked it, it is climbing up my favorite ladder. This is not a bourbon for quick impressions. This is not your typical expression of our favorite spirit. Not all sweet, and corn, and thick. If you're on the fence on this, and you don't mind going outside the mainstream in Bourbonia, I suggest you give it a try.
Dare I say that this is my fave after the 2002? Though, they are two Totally different beasts.
I've been playing around with this again...
Dammit Joe I opened my bottle last night and was going to writing something like that! But you wrote it much better than I could have anyway.:grin:
I've never had the 2002, but the favorites of the ones I've had are the 2007 & 2008. The 2009 is so different I don't think it really compares to those two at all. I did get a soft sweet floral scent in the nose that could be interpreted as a plastic smell, but it faded pretty quickly for me. Nice wood on the finish too.
Anyway, I likes it.
unclebunk
12-10-2009, 07:48
I've never had the 2002, but the favorites of the ones I've had are the 2007 & 2008. The 2009 is so different I don't think it really compares to those two at all. I did get a soft sweet floral scent in the nose that could be interpreted as a plastic smell, but it faded pretty quickly for me. Nice wood on the finish too. Anyway, I likes it.
I had a similar experience but in the end preferred the 2007 and 2008 to the 2009.
Bought a bottle even after Hansell's review. The OFBB is hard to come by in these parts (MA) and have enjoyed them in the past. No off notes detected in my bottle. Really full flavored, dry and woody but not as in a bad way. Quite bold flovors on the palate, yrmv. Certainly not my favorite of the OFBB, but variety is the spice of life.
variety is the spice of life.
Well Said!
I went back and forth on the first of 3 bottles of '09 OFBB. First not liking it, then liking it, and I think back and forth a good half dozen times. I can only hope I can ponder the same over the next 2 bottles. I do have an '08 to compare with the last '09 though. It'll be a while for a review though.
mgilbertva
12-23-2009, 22:10
I've always valued the OFBBs because they have such unique character. Not necessarily the best bourbon out there, but always unique.
I wonder how the '09 will change as it oxidizes. I remember hating the '04 when I first opened it but after a few months it lost its unpleasant notes (lots of white pepper) and I loved it.
Anyone have a similar experience with the '09, i.e., significant improvement by sitting open for an extended period?
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