Old Forester Statesman was released as a tie-in with the 2017 movie, Kingman: The Golden Circle which was the second release in a four movie series. The comedy spy thriller movies are campy fun and much to my wife’s chagrin whenever I see the move on while scanning the channels, I stop which gets an audible grown.
- Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
- Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)
- The King’s Man (2021)
- Kingsman: The Blue Blood (Not Yet Released)
The bourbon despite being released as a tie-in to the movie is an ongoing production item from the distillery and is a blend of hand selected casks from the warmest places in the rickhouse.
Bourbon Review: Old Forester Statesman
ABV: 47.5% (95 Proof)
Age: NAS (Believed to be Less Than 5 Years)
Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Company
Location: Louisville, KY
The Nose: A light and airy aroma rises from the glass with notes of vanilla and brown sugar. Letting the glass sit for a bit, the aroma opens up a bit more revealing hints of butterscotch and caramel along with a subtle oak.
The Taste: The front end has melon sweetness and a subtle banana before revealing a touch of caramel, cinnamon and oak. The subtle banana from the front end reappears on the lingering finish that has a nice amount of sweetness to it. A secondary sip reveals robust cherry notes, subtle citrus, and a lingering butterscotch on the finish.
Conclusion: From the silky mouthfeel, to the complexity of sweetness this is a bourbon that has a wow factor, for me anyway. I realize the sweetness might not be for everyone but this 95 proof bourbon checks all the boxes for me. I do question the price coming from the marketing industry, I can’t help but wonder how much the price is driven up if royalties are involved for the use of the name.
The flavor profile on Old Forester Statesman is considerably different than other bourbons in the company portfolio. As someone who was exclusively a rum drinker as recent as 5 years ago, this bourbon reminded me of what drew me to rum. It’s not excessively sweet but it is sweet enough that it makes it a great bourbon to introduce a non bourbon drinker too. A case in point is my wife likes the first sip of everything I drink. This one she liked enough where she contemplated her own pour. As for what she normally drinks she prefers to sip on tequila.
Score: 94
Price: $54.99
