Old Forester Single Barrel Store Picks?

[NYCBourbon]

Came across an Old Forester single barrel store pick the other day. Didn’t pull the trigger at the time since it was priced at $55 and I don’t have any experience with OF picks. Anyone have opinions on these? I obviously realize that, being store picks, they’re bound to vary in quality but I’m curious as to whether it might be worth picking one up?

[flahute]

They can be very good. It's worth picking up one IF the OF profile is one that you generally enjoy.

[NYCBourbon]

5 minutes ago, flahute said:

They can be very good. It's worth picking up one IF the OF profile is one that you generally enjoy.

I like most OF stuff so I’ll  have to give it a shot then! Is that price in the ballpark of reasonable for one?

[flahute]

10 minutes ago, NYCBourbon said:

I like most OF stuff so I’ll  have to give it a shot then! Is that price in the ballpark of reasonable for one?

That is pretty typical, yes. I've had three different picks now and two were really good while one was just OK. (Not bad, just not worthy of the price).

[Mako254]

17 minutes ago, NYCBourbon said:

I like most OF stuff so I’ll  have to give it a shot then! Is that price in the ballpark of reasonable for one?

 

$55 is high I think. I like the barrel that was at my total but the two OF bottles that are main stays in my cabinet are 1920 and OF signature. 

 

If it were me, I’d see if you could try before you buy. It would have to be a hell of a store pick to beat out 1920. JMO.  

 

 

Edited December 27, 2017 by Mako254

[Bullseye]

I picked up one a while ago and enjoyed it very much.  I purchased it from West Moreland LS in Portland, Oregon. It cost $35, which is about $10 more than OF100 runs here. 

[NDN98]

12 minutes ago, Mako254 said:

 

$55 is high I think. I like the barrel that was at my total but the two OF bottles that are main stays in my cabinet are 1920 and OF signature. 

 

If it were me, I’d see if you could try before you buy. It would have to be a hell of a store pick to beat out 1920. JMO.  

 

 

I agree that $55 is high.  Most OF SiB Store Picks I have seen have been in the $39-45 range.  Depending on the palate of those that choose the pick, they can be really good though.

[Mako254]

Just now, NDN98 said:

I agree that $55 is high.  Most OF SiB Store Picks I have seen have been in the $39-45 range.  Depending on the palate of those that choose the pick, they can be really good though.

 Wish they were higher than 90 proof too. I’m with my in laws in panama city beach this week and the local shop has a barrel. 7th floor. BF uses heated warehouses so this probably has some good notes. Might pick it up if I dont find anyhting else down here this week. 

[flahute]

On price, I should clarify that $55 is typical for where I live, which has very high taxes. If that's your pre tax price, it's a bit high. It could also be a case of New York pricing.

[PaulO]

Some stores that buy a whole barrel will have an open bottle behind the counter for samples.  Also, they should have some data like age of barrel and total number of bottles.

[DeepCover]

I remember being in True Spirits in Plano about 6 months ago and they were swimming in OF SB and I asked the owner the age of their barrel. He was like, "They sent me 4 samples. I didn't like any of them. This one's 4 years old. I don't like it." I didn't buy it, but I later saw positive reviews. I regret not buying a bottle.

[Bnrhodes3]

As mentioned above, see if they have a sample to let you try. A local store got a barrel within the last month, so I tried it, liked it, bought it (it was under $40 though). 

[berto]

I had a few very good picks.  

[FacePlant]

I got to do a sampling on a barrel coming into my LS soon. The barrel chosen was the traditional profile with a little something else, some red fruit if I remember? Have no idea what he'll price it at. It's his first time of doing an OF barrel.

[bourbon4all]

I tried two in Phoenix while there and one was good and one was terrible (total wine). Try and get a taste

[Marekv8]

This is a tasty bottle-- but as others have posted, an increase in ABV would be welcomed. I picked it up purely from many past positive experiences with Lincoln Road picks.

 

[CardsandBourbon]

I have a OF SiB PS and it's pretty good.  I don't remember exactly but I think I paid around $40 - $42 so $55 seems a bit high.

[VWIndy]

I have had several of these OF store picks.  They have all had good body, flavor and extremely easy to drink.  They are usually $50 in Indy, but in my opinion well worth it.  The only thing better are the ECBP and the 4RBP IMNSHO.

VWIndy

[Mako254]

2 hours ago, Marekv8 said:

This is a tasty bottle-- but as others have posted, an increase in ABV would be welcomed. I picked it up purely from many past positive experiences with Lincoln Road picks.

 

 

Definitely jealous of the Lincoln road stuff. Have heard their RRSiB stuff is fantastic. 

[Marekv8]

1 hour ago, Mako254 said:

 

Definitely jealous of the Lincoln road stuff. Have heard their RRSiB stuff is fantastic. 

LRP has 5 Russell's Reserve picks on hand right now (at least they did several weeks ago), which is crazy cool for such a small market. I'm thinking about heading there on Friday to grab his Clément Cask Selection Rhum Agricole and a few other PS oddities, so let me know if you'd like me to pick up anything on your behalf:

• Russell’s Reserve 110 proof Barrel 17–990
• Russell’s Reserve 110 proof Barrel 17-892
• Russell's Reserve 110 proof Barrel 2665
• Russell's Reserve 110 proof Barrel 16-027
• Russell's Reserve 110 proof Barrel 16-349 

[lcpfratn]

I got to do a sampling on a barrel coming into my LS soon. The barrel chosen was the traditional profile with a little something else, some red fruit if I remember? Have no idea what he'll price it at. It's his first time of doing an OF barrel.

I think he’ll price it very competitively like he does most of his barrel picks. My guess is mid to high $30 range.


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[lcpfratn]

LRP has 5 Russell's Reserve picks on hand right now (at least they did several weeks ago), which is crazy cool for such a small market. I'm thinking about heading there on Friday to grab his Clément Cask Selection Rhum Agricole and a few other PS oddities, so let me know if you'd like me to pick up anything on your behalf:

• Russell’s Reserve 110 proof Barrel 17–990
• Russell’s Reserve 110 proof Barrel 17-892
• Russell's Reserve 110 proof Barrel 2665
• Russell's Reserve 110 proof Barrel 16-027
• Russell's Reserve 110 proof Barrel 16-349 

I’ll probably be stopping by Lincoln Road Package Store in a few weeks. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of them until a few months ago...I drive through Hattiesburg, MS several times a year, and grew up 30 minutes south of there. I do have one of the store picks of Belle Meade XO cask finish that they did jointly with Carothers Wine & Spirits in Franklin, TN.


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[flahute]

55 minutes ago, lcpfratn said:

I’ll probably be stopping by Lincoln Road Package Store in a few weeks. I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of them until a few months ago...I drive through Hattiesburg, MS several times a year, and grew up 30 minutes south of there. I do have one of the store picks of Belle Meade XO cask finish that they did jointly with Carothers Wine & Spirits in Franklin, TN.


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Jamie Farris, and especially his wife, have great palates and pick great barrels. I have quite a few of them myself. Do yourself a favor and stop to pick some up.

[Marekv8]

3 minutes ago, flahute said:

Jamie Farris, and especially his wife, have great palates and pick great barrels. I have quite a few of them myself. Do yourself a favor and stop to pick some up.

 

Agreed! I stumbled across Lincoln Road on my way home from the George Dickel distillery in Tullahoma a few years back and try to make the pilgrimage as often as possible. It's not just the quality of the picks, it's the unique curation of eclectic offerings that keeps me coming back. The staff is also a fantastic and enthusiastic group.

[lcpfratn]

Jamie Farris, and especially his wife, have great palates and pick great barrels. I have quite a few of them myself. Do yourself a favor and stop to pick some up.

Steve, If I'm by myself the next time I drive down to see my Mom and Dad, I'll definitely be stopping by. I would have stopped in when we drove down for Thanksgiving, but I had already been getting the stink eye from SWMBO due to all the local bourbon hunting that I'd been up to. So, I decided that a stop would have to wait for another day.

It is amazing that a liquor store in a relatively small city in a quasi control state like Mississippi has such a reputation and also gets as many private selection barrels as they do. I'm definitely looking forward to stopping in for a visit soon.


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