Old Bottle of Forester

[Jessie]

My name is Jessie and I have been given a bottle of Old Forester.  The person who gave it to me quit drinking about 30 years ago but never poured anything out.  To tell everyone the truth, I do not drink either but I do feel this bottle of bourbon has some value.  I am not looking to sell it but to find the age as I do have a friend who does like smoked bourbon and I thought I might indulge in the finer things of life.  So I am asking for a favor.  Can anyone tell me the value of an unopened bottle of Old Forester with a bottle stamp of 84?  I am going to post some pictures so everyone can take a look and give me council as to the value.  

 

Respectively,

 

Jessie

[Richnimrod]

I'm fairly certain no mare than about 10-or-12 bux was paid back in '84.    The 'value' today, if one can find a person who is into the profile of mid-eighties Old Forester 86 (pretty ordinary at the time, but maybe a bit above the character of current OF 86-proof).     So the value to someone who really craves this mid-eighties (uncommon nowadays) OF juice may be upwards of $25.   I'd probably offer someone wishing to sell me such a bottle... maybe $20. ...If private sales of hard spirits were legal.

 

I don't know what you mean by "smoked" Bourbon.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Richnimrod
Oooops! Typo.

[PaulO]

Given the tax strip across the top and a UPC code on the label, the date of 1984 seems correct.

Tax strip's last year was '84.  UPC became a standard, I think early eighties.

 

No doubt, it's a cool bottle.  The novelty of having an older bottle unopened with a box is something.  Old Forester 86 proof is still in production and widely available.  The retail price for a 750ml of current version is around $20.

 

Old Forester 86 was, and is the base of that brand's line up.  It's decent Bourbon Whiskey.

What tend to garner excitement in appraisals and auctions are the higher end brand extensions - for example bottled in bond with an age statement.

As with other collectables (baseball cards, coins, etc.) certain ones are more valuable, because they are rare and desired, not just for being old.

On the positive side, stored properly, an old unopened bottle of whiskey is still good to drink, still worth what a bottle of whiskey is worth.

[Phil T]

I think Richnimrod nailed the value for you. A solid bourbon, but nothing special. Since you don't drink and you aren't going to sell it, the value is irrelevant. Give it to a friend who enjoys bourbon. 

 

Prost!!  Phil 

[mbroo5880i]

I agree with what everyone says above. 

 

Not to sound campy, but you will find more value in sharing a pour with your friends than you would get in the resale or trade market.

 

As Paul says the novelty is worth more than the contents. 

 

Friends would get kick out of trying something older and then realizing it is nothing really special.  This serves two purposes...trying something older and eliminates the perspective that you missed out. 

 

 

Edited July 30, 2023 by mbroo5880i

[smokinjoe]

On a side note, your bottle has three indentations on each side.  Old Forester bottles with these indentations are warmly referred to as “dimpled bottles”. 
 

Dimpled Bottle Old Foresters are considered just about the finest whiskey’s they ever produced.  

[Jessie]

I would like to thank each of you for your comments and recommendations.... I think I will share it with my good friend.  Who knows, it may make me a bourbon guy as well..   Just so everyone knows, the smoked bourbon ... I am not real clear about, we were at dinner one night and he ordered a smoked bourbon.

 

Respectively,

 

Jessie

[Richnimrod]

38 minutes ago, Jessie said:

I would like to thank each of you for your comments and recommendations.... I think I will share it with my good friend.  Who knows, it may make me a bourbon guy as well..   Just so everyone knows, the smoked bourbon ... I am not real clear about, we were at dinner one night and he ordered a smoked bourbon.

 

Respectively,

 

Jessie

I believe that "Smoked Bourbon" must have been a bartender's 'special treatment'.    I've heard of some specialist "mixologists" experimenting with infusing various things into cocktails, so maybe that...?

[PaulO]

I recall seeing somewhere, the bartender captures some wood smoke in a large glass, then sets it upside down over a smaller glass containing the drink.

[VWIndy]

The smoked bourbon is created with a device that looks like a bong (my brother had a bong once;}).  The bartender lights some wood chips and captures the smoke in the chamber.  It is then pumped into the bourbon and infuses flavor depending upon the wood chips used (i.e. cherry, oak, walnut etc.).  It is good but your mouth tastes like a campfire the next morning:}

[Richnimrod]

First let me apologize for further drifting this thread...

The idea of "improving Bourbon" by infusing anything (like smoke of any sort) into a neat pour seems anathema to the experience I wish to enjoy.   

But, of course, each person has more . . . or less . . . desire for new experiences.   ...And, that's not a bad thing.

[mbroo5880i]

12 hours ago, VWIndy said:

The smoked bourbon is created with a device that looks like a bong (my brother had a bong once;}).  The bartender lights some wood chips and captures the smoke in the chamber.  It is then pumped into the bourbon and infuses flavor depending upon the wood chips used (i.e. cherry, oak, walnut etc.).  It is good but your mouth tastes like a campfire the next morning:}

 

Sure.....

 

Mom - "Whose bong is that?"

VW - "Chevy's"

[0895]

11 hours ago, mbroo5880i said:

 

Sure.....

 

Mom - "Whose bong is that?"

VW - "Chevy's"