Old Forester Birthday 2013

[Old Dusty]

i tasted this with a bunch of other things and kept coming back to it......But in what is for me typical Brown-Foreman fashion, woke up with a lovely headache this morning that continues

Hmmmm, not sure you can blame either Mr. Brown or Mr. Foreman totally based on that quote:grin:

[Cigar Dan]

I have a bottle on the way, and i should be getting it within a day or two. Looking forward to trying it.

[suntour]

This stuff should be everywhere by now right?

I really am hoping that this gets to retail enough that people can buy it on a shelf, I think it used to at least. I have reasons to doubt this though as my state has not shown definitively that its even coming to our state this year.

[zillah]

I really hope this one does not get over-hyped. Jason Pyle giving it a glowing review is nice, but lets keep it that way. All I need is for whiskey advocate to say the same and my inability to get this easy and accessible limited edition bourbon goes to nil. I have been getting every release for the past year or so (growing OF fan) and I starting to kinda know how many feel when a favorite whiskey goes popular and is swept away from one's feet to feed the trend monster.

[jeffrey r]

I really hope this one does not get over-hyped. Jason Pyle giving it a glowing review is nice, but lets keep it that way. All I need is for whiskey advocate to say the same and my inability to get this easy and accessible limited edition bourbon goes to nil. I have been getting every release for the past year or so (growing OF fan) and I starting to kinda know how many feel when a favorite whiskey goes popular and is swept away from one's feet to feed the trend monster.

OFBB has never quite been "accessible" in my area, in the sense that it is not regularly re-stocked. Usually, once early stock was gone, the OFBB was essentially gone. It has only been accessible at times due to languishing.

I think those days may be coming to an end, as I think your fears may end up coming true. Jason Pyle has talked the 2013 up, John Hansell has talked the 2013 up.

I passed on the 2012 on multiple occasions, and it just sat. I don't think people were jumping on one another to get it. This year, I just bought the three bottles of the 2013 that I came across. The hype machine caught up to me. I knew that if I liked it, I'd end up going back for the other bottles. And I feared that if I didn't buy all 3 bottles then, they wouldn't be there when I went back. This is what happens with the BTAC, PVW, and now unfortunately the FR LE's of the world. OFBB is more affordable than any of those, so it will be interesting to see what happens with this 2013 edition.

[zillah]

I am afraid that people won't be buying these on taste alone and it sucks. The OFBB flavor profile from 2010 and onward, especially the 2012, just leaves me weak in the knees that doesn't do the same for everyone else. It was an under-the-radar gem that I actually drank. Now it will sit in a bunch of people's bunkers only because everyone else is buying it. I didn't want to have to play the game...but I guess I am forced into it now. I will probably buy before I try, extra bottles even, just to keep. Sigh.

[squire]

The good choices eventually get recognition and all we can do is buy them before the trend sets in or pay the price later.

[jeffrey r]

Well, zillah, I'll posit this. Are there going to be lines and waiting lists for the OFBB? No. Will it sit on a shelf for at least some point in time? Yes. As enthusiasts, we will likely have the chance to jump on it before the masses do. That is the approach I took, and I am glad to have 3 bottles of this terrific bourbon.

[zillah]

This is becoming quite the expensive hobby.

[squire]

At least we're not wasting the money.

[P&MLiquorsEric]

OFBB has never quite been "accessible" in my area, in the sense that it is not regularly re-stocked. Usually, once early stock was gone, the OFBB was essentially gone. It has only been accessible at times due to languishing.

I think those days may be coming to an end, as I think your fears may end up coming true. Jason Pyle has talked the 2013 up, John Hansell has talked the 2013 up.

I passed on the 2012 on multiple occasions, and it just sat. I don't think people were jumping on one another to get it. This year, I just bought the three bottles of the 2013 that I came across. The hype machine caught up to me. I knew that if I liked it, I'd end up going back for the other bottles. And I feared that if I didn't buy all 3 bottles then, they wouldn't be there when I went back. This is what happens with the BTAC, PVW, and now unfortunately the FR LE's of the world. OFBB is more affordable than any of those, so it will be interesting to see what happens with this 2013 edition.

In KY, it cannot be reordered. You get an allotment and that is it. It is a more generous allotment than most limited releases... For now.

[jburlowski]

At least we're not wasting the money.

Maybe yes. And sometimes, maybe not so much.

[theglobalguy]

May be that my palette is shot after a day of food and drink, but finally cracked my bottle open and getting hit with a burnt taste and a hotter feel than i expected. I enjoyed the '12 very much, and the '11 even more. Not picking up the usual banana in the flavor. Smells like heaven, but then tastes a bit of burnt toast.

Will give it another shot next week when my taste buds are clear.

[theglobalguy]

May be that my palette is shot after a day of food and drink, but finally cracked my bottle open and getting hit with a burnt taste and a hotter feel than i expected. I enjoyed the '12 very much, and the '11 even more. Not picking up the usual banana in the flavor. Smells like heaven, but then tastes a bit of burnt toast.

Will give it another shot next week when my taste buds are clear.

OK, couldn't wait till next week....

I will say, i think Bambi and GTS broke my tongue yesterday. This is a much better experience today, smokey and while i still get some of that burnt toast...its a much more buttered version. Hell of a nose on it and the best way i can explain it is that it's a much darker (both in color and flavor) pour than compared to prior years.

[suntour]

I was surprised to see you say that and glad you've recanted since :slappin:

Not really of course. I adore this stuff though I must say, only have a few pours left in my bottle and I'm starting to worry we in Oregon won't be getting it this year.

[msong]

The nose is incredible on this thing, was really surprised. I'm still undecided on tasting need to revisit as well, but as of now doesn't strike me as WOW but is not bad either. If you see it in the wild, would still recommend you pick up one. (I wonder if the nose is throwing off the taste...)

[CL]

Just as a point of reference, Sku panned it.

[MyOldKyDram]

His is the only truly bad review I've seen. Most have been from good to great. His was crazy harsh. D+ on his LAWS review.

[theglobalguy]

His is the only truly bad review I've seen. Most have been from good to great. His was crazy harsh. D+ on his LAWS review.

And while i recognize we have different palettes, sour and bitter makes me wonder if he had a bad bottle/sample?

[Kyjd75]

Everyone's taste is different. Obviously sku (who's blog I read regularly) didn't like it. Most everyone else does like it, in varying degrees. I happen to think it's pretty darn good. If Eric and I make it to the gazebo Wednesday night, maybe I'll bring a bottle of it for others to try.

[smokinjoe]

And, to think he got one from one of those Whiskey Reviewer "Honey Barrels"!! OK, Sku's opinion is at an extreme, for sure. So, throw it out. Just, like you should throw out the gushingly over-the-top, ELIXER of the GODS!!!!, positive ones. The reality for most of us is somewhere in the middle, with varying degree of slants either way. However, I am surprised, and yes skeptical, that such a negative review could come after so many positive ones, but my skepticism is about the individual bottle he reviewed, and certainly not on Sku's motives. I don't know Sku, but his rep is solid in SB Land, so I trust his review was honestly given. That's all you can ask for.

I look forward to trying my own bottle (ahem, when I get one...), and doing the absolutely right and correct thing...Formulating my own opinion.

[portugieser]

And while i recognize we have different palettes, sour and bitter makes me wonder if he had a bad bottle/sample?

[theglobalguy]

Yes I would highly doubt an entire bad batch, but could have contaminants in a few bottles (increased risk with sample bottles)? I thought cork risk was more for product sitting around a while.

I'm no expert in bottling, but have toured enough distilleries to know they're not exactly clean room environments.

[CL]

Is there any real evidence that modern producers still put out the occasional "bad bottles"? With wine, an individual bottle can have oxidation issues that primarily relates to issues with the cork. For spirits, ever if a cork element is included on the cap, a little oxygen leakage is no big deal. And it's highly doubtful that a whole barrell or batch of whiskey was "bad" and then bottled. Anyway, people often refer to "bad bottles" and I'm just curious if there's any empircal evidence that this is actually an issue that effects major distillers.

I thought the same, portugieser. I would add the question, if a bad bottle could occur, what would cause it? Bourbon is a pretty stable product, unlike wine or beer.

[wmpevans]

And, to think he got one from one of those Whiskey Reviewer "Honey Barrels"!! OK, Sku's opinion is at an extreme, for sure. So, throw it out. Just, like you should throw out the gushingly over-the-top, ELIXER of the GODS!!!!, positive ones. The reality for most of us is somewhere in the middle, with varying degree of slants either way. However, I am surprised, and yes skeptical, that such a negative review could come after so many positive ones, but my skepticism is about the individual bottle he reviewed, and certainly not on Sku's motives. I don't know Sku, but his rep is solid in SB Land, so I trust his review was honestly given. That's all you can ask for.

I look forward to trying my own bottle (ahem, when I get one...), and doing the absolutely right and correct thing...Formulating my own opinion.

Hopefully someone will wrestle one up for the GBS meet up. I've got feelers out.