Charred oak | Caramel | Vanilla | Light banana souffle | Hint of cinnamon powder | Enjoyable

Aged oak | Rye spice | Dark raisin | Faint leather | Mellow cinnamon stick | Thin mouthfeel

Rye spice | Vanilla powder | Slightly chewy oak | Peppercorn spice

The Old Forester 117 Series is often used by the company to highlight more experimental releases. While more traditional releases like Warehouse I or Old Forester 117 Series Bottled in Bond are occasionally released, more often than not, the 117 Series affords fans of Old Forester a way to taste a one-off whiskey from the brand, such as this year’s Old Forester 117 Series: Rum Finish. For this release, Old Forester Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo states that “each bottle of the limited-edition whisky comes from barrels aged in Old Forester’s Warehouse I, resulting in a flavor profile distinct to the warehouse’s unique maturation environment. These Warehouse I barrels were heat-cycled since 2013 and chosen exclusively from the hottest floors.”

Old Forester 117 Series: Warehouse I will please those looking for a classic bourbon pour. Up front, the sip delivers a really enjoyable platter of classic bourbon scents, along with a light banana souffle note that adds intrigue. Dark raisin and aged oak highlight the midpoint, but they’re delivered with a thin mouthfeel that feels mismatched. Ending with a mixture of spice and chewy oak, the sip rounds things out in a straightforward manner. While I would have liked the palate to be less thin and the finish linger a bit longer, overall, this is a really nicely done offering from Old Forester. It is a shame these releases are so limited in nature because more fans of the brand should have access to offerings like this one.