Old Forester Distillery located at 117 Main Street, Louisville, Kentucky is introducing a ‘The 117 Series’. This new product line from one of America’s oldest distillers pays homage to their recently completed distillery at this address and to the many years Brown-Forman has been located at this address on Whiskey Row. In fact, they like this address so much they bought it twice.
Old Forester called this location home from 1882 – 1919, returning in 2018 with a fully-functioning distillery. Old Forester is produced at this distillery and their main Brown Forman Distillery across town. The new Old Forester Distillery offers an immersive tour experience giving guests a deep insight into the brand’s rich history and innovations.
The 117 Series inaugural release is called High Angels’ Share. The new series is directed by the distinctive palate of Old Forester Master Taster Jackie Zykan. This initial release will showcase the many facets of the Old Forester flavors and its label will bear her name, making this the first bottle in the brand’s more than 150 year history to feature a woman’s signature.
The 117 Series: High Angels’ Share showcases a selection of barrels which lost exceptional volume to evaporation in the aging process. This first batch is made up of 27 barrels ranging in age from the youngest at 4 ¾ years to almost 7. Contributing to the loss is the fact that all Old Forester barrels are heat cycled in the barrel warehouse during the maturation process.
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Zykan says the result of this highly concentrated liquid is a bourbon that is rich and multidimensional, layered with dark flavor notes, dried fruits and unexpected herbaceous qualities. Given the dense concentration of flavors in the liquid, air, water or an ice cube allow this whisky to open and unveil unorthodox character. This release examines the unfettered qualities presented in low-yield barrels, showing Old Forester consumers an unencumbered look at this specific facet of the ageing process.
“Creating The 117 Series has been a labor of love and seeing my signature on the label is one of the highlights of my career. My mind is exploding with the endless possibilities of this smaller scale of experimentation and innovation,” said Jackie Zykan.
“This series presents an opportunity to pull the curtain back and share the isolates of the blending process to help deepen the understanding of how variants in maturation affect flavor profile. We’re playing in uncharted territory here and those who love Old Forester like we do will have the chance to explore with us.”
Old Forest says The 117 Series is a testament to brands continued endeavors in product innovation and experimentation and allows for consumers to try a wide range of Old Forester’s flavor profiles. From controlling the mash and yeast strain, to barrels and maturation environments, the possibilities are limitless. Subsequent releases in The 117 Series may explore selections from specific warehouses, barrel manipulations, deconstructed blends and more.
Old Forester, The 117 Series, High Angel’s Share
Old Forester The 117 Series bottled at 110 proof (55%ABV). It is available now at the distillery but supplies are limited. Due to social distancing requirements and in-store capacities a limited number of tickets will be issued daily for fans to purchase up to four bottles of The 117 Series. Tickets must be redeemed the day they are received. This 117 Series release has a suggested retail price of $49.99 for a 375ml bottle at Old Forester Distilling Co. and in limited quantities at select Kentucky retailers.
Is it hard to get? Yes, people were lining up at 3am on the day March 25, 2021 release date. It went on sale at 8am and the day’s allocation of 100 tickets sold out by 8:05am.
Learn more about Old Forester Distillery.
View all Louisville Distilleries.
View all Kentucky Distilleries.
Related Story – What is the Angel’s Share?
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