OF 1870 Original Batch -- anyone tried it yet?

[Paul W]

I see that OF 1870 Original Batch is now available here and there. I see the first reviews surfacing, but I wondered if any of you all have actually tried it and what you think. The one review I read said it is better than OFBB 2014 and suggested buying one before the price goes up. I like OFBB 2014, but I don't love it. Any insight from y'all on the 1870 would be appreciated

[bicktrav]

Don't know anything about it, but I'm definitely interested. What is it priced at?

[Paul W]

$50 give or take. Supposedly San Francisco is one of the cities that got the first release, so theoretically it could be out there already.

Here is the review http://whiskeyordeath.net/1870-original-batch-review/

[TunnelTiger]

If it's $50 plus like I read in another thread I'm going to need to see a whole lot of positive posts before I commit.

[JohnHansell]

I tried it. Not great, but not terrible either.

[Paul W]

I tried it. Not great, but not terrible either.

How does it compare, in your view, to OF Sig or OFBB 2014?

[tanstaafl2]

$50 give or take. Supposedly San Francisco is one of the cities that got the first release, so theoretically it could be out there already.

Here is the review http://whiskeyordeath.net/1870-original-batch-review/

I tried it at WoW in Atlanta last month (not the best place to try to form a good sense of a new whiskey with all the things you try at these events) and remember it being pretty good but I wasn't sure it was worth that much more than OF Signature. Not sure somebody I know nothing about saying it was "better" than OFBB means much at this point. It is lower proof, presumably NAS versus the 97 proof 12yo OFBB. Maybe they just didn't like the woodier OFBB profile but I like it just fine!

Seems a bit like a gimmick to sell standard OF barrels of indeterminate age for a premium price over what the current OF sells for just because they mixed a few together from different rick houses to create a certain profile and loosely tied it to a historical practice. Not sure how that is all that different from what they normally do! Not that it makes them any better or worse than most any other distillery!

Not that that won't stop me from giving it another try if and when it shows up!

Edited December 12, 2014 by tanstaafl2

[amg]

Found a couple more online reviews. Sounds like a try-before-you-buy to me:

http://thebourbonbabe.com/post/102638863329/taste-old-forester-1870

http://www.drinkhacker.com/2014/12/10/review-old-forester-whiskey-row-series-1870-original-batch-bourbon/

[Paul W]

Not sure somebody I know nothing about saying it was "better" than OFBB means much at this point.

Agree. That is why I asked other people who I also know nothing about to weigh in as well...

[tanstaafl2]

Agree. That is why I asked other people who I also know nothing about to weigh in as well...

True enough! The folks at "WoD" might really know their whiskey but this is the first time I have seen their blog. But there are some people on here that I do know something about whose opinion I would give some weight!

[bmajazz]

True enough! The folks at "WoD" might really know their whiskey but this is the first time I have seen their blog. But there are some people on here that I do know something about whose opinion I would give some weight!

I hope "WoD" improves their writing style. "We here at Whiskey or Death..." If I ever read that again...

Edited December 13, 2014 by bmajazz

[The Black Tot]

It doesn't sound like this is rocking anyone's world. The best reviews I've read seem to say it's on the level of a curiosity.

BF seems to be unable to hit any bourbon home runs apart from OFBB. I was hoping for a gem on these. If I were them I would ease back on their special edition pricing until they start delivering the special edition taste.

[Vosgar]

Bought a bottle last week and have tried it on three different nights. I get a big dose of green apple, sometimes candied apple, flavor going before a bit of spiciness kicks in with a medium length finish that is pretty darn good. I'd put this one in the "dessert bourbon" category.

My guess is that many of you will say the price isn't justified (I paid $42.99), but to me it's a nice whiskey and I'm happy with it. Just sit back and enjoy, don't try to over think it.

[risenc]

I thought it was pretty bland. Nothing bad, but I was hard pressed to tell how it was all that different from standard OF. A bit richer and woodier. maybe. But better than OFBB 2014? That's insane.

[WhiskyRI]

It's not coming to Rhode Island until late next year - but I'm doing a tasting of it this Tuesday. I'll report back on it. I don't have huge expectations. I expect it'll be similar to the Signature but at a higher price and with some marketing muscle behind it.

[cowdery]

I received a sample. I like it, but it's challenging. Very flavorful, big bodied and mouth-filling. Big dark molasses note, so that combination of bitter and sweet, with a faint touch of blueberry. I can imagine this being what Old Forester tasted like in 1870, a little more rough that what we prefer now, but we shouldn't think of it as an attempt to replicate a historical style. It's more a homage to Brown's batching technique. The story is just geeky enough to be interesting and then to taste the result, it's interesting, satisfying as knowledge. As whiskey, it's not that easy to drink, but it gives you something to think about. I've felt the same way about many of the Birthday Bourbon selections and I respect Chris Morris for taking that approach. 1870 Original Batch was created by his protege, Marianne Barnes.

So I enjoyed it, but I had to follow it with some Weller 12 to recalibrate the sensors.

[flahute]

True enough! The folks at "WoD" might really know their whiskey but this is the first time I have seen their blog. But there are some people on here that I do know something about whose opinion I would give some weight!

The WoD guys rated Old Medley 12yr higher than Stagg, so count me highly skeptical of their reviews.

[DBM]

The WoD guys rated Old Medley 12yr higher than Stagg, so count me highly skeptical of their reviews.

[Josh]

$50 give or take. Supposedly San Francisco is one of the cities that got the first release, so theoretically it could be out there already.

Here is the review http://whiskeyordeath.net/1870-original-batch-review/

[Phil T]

Who TF are those people and why is their snake wrapped around a wine bottle?Anyway, I don't receive any samples of anything because PR people don't like me, but when I find a bottle I'll do a review.I canzz hear you all holding your breath.

Edited December 17, 2014 by Phil T

[Josh]

However, I've met you, and you are pretty much a good dude.

That's the nicest thing anybody's said to me all year.

[ModernThirst]

Awful nice of them at WoD to copy our site's template and layout. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I guess.

[PaulO]

50ml bottles would be nice.

[WhiskyRI]

I wasn't taking detailed notes but i found it good, not rock your world excellent or anything, but overall a solid bourbon. Once it becomes more widely available I could see having a bottle of it open.