I had tried to get into whiskey for a while. I've always been more of a craft beer guy. Couple of my buddies who love whiskey would have me try all sorts and for my amateur palette they all tasted the same and the taste wasn't all that appealing to me. I had come to the sad conclusion that I just wasn't a whiskey guy. One of my buds had spoken glowingly about Old Forester and I'm sure he had me try at some point but I guess it didn't stand out to me. Last year I was visiting my dad who likes to have a daily sip in the evenings - generally stuff like Makers Mark, Elijah Craig, Bullet, etc. As a gift I wanted to get him a bottle of whiskey. I ended up getting the 1920 Prohibition. I had no idea what it tasted like, but took a shot in the dark. I tried it and immediately fell in love with it. I don't know enough to tell you exactly why I like it so much, but it's the only whiskey I drink because it's the only one I truly enjoy. Like after every sip I can't help but say "Damn, that's delicious." It's the only whiskey that does that to me.
Man that’s awesome! Thank you for sharing that with me. That’s the think though, there’s SO many different bottles and they are all different in their own way. It’s so hard to try and convey to people how things TRULY taste because the only way is to try yourself. I’ll tell you this though; I was the same way when I started getting into bourbon. I didn’t hate it, but nothing was just resonating with me. When I found the bottle that made that light go off, I drank it more and more. The more you drink bourbon, I think your palate will start changing and developing. I think as you continue, you’ll start to find more bottles you like. Loving the 1920 first is a tough one though because it really is a stand out bottle of just being GOOD. At the end of the day, remember to always just drink what you enjoy! My advice is to ALSO continue to try branching out occasionally. I started getting into wine, but when I’d also go to buy a bottle of bourbon, I’d buy a new wine to try. There was plenty I didn’t care for, but I’ve since honed my palate down and I know which grape varieties I love and those I don’t. It’s all part of the journey! I know my channel is literally all bourbon, but we accept all alcohol over here! Come hangout during a livestream and chat with the folks there. Wine, whiskey, beer, we have them all! Cheers man, and good luck expanding into the whiskey world!
Thanks for the rankings! In total agreement with Statesman, I did not care for that one at all. I love 1910 and 1920 but 1870 is actually my favorite. I liked the grains coming through on that one a lot. I like how different people can have similar and different favorites within these brands. For those who haven't, the downtown Louisville location is really cool to go to and I recommend it if you're in the area!
I agree with you Trev, the 1910 is my favorite as well. We could probably start a ruckus if we do to much comparison of 1910 to 1920 so . . . That's all I have to say about that.
1897 BIB: I opened my first bottle 1897 with friends annd company. The overall impression was medicinal. After that night, I put the bottle on the shelf for a couple of months and then gave the 1897 BIB another try. I was well rewarded for waiting. This is everybit as good as many other BIB whiskeys, and yes, I will purchase this again.
I have been absolutely pissed about bottles only to have them get much better after a few weeks. I don't think it's just your mouth that day, some just are not at their best at first.
Great video. I appreciate how you didn’t just throw all of these bottles into a cage match and declare one winner, which-if we’re being honest-most often tends to be 1920. Nothing wrong with 1920, but I enjoy them all for different reasons and like having different options readily available to me depending on my mood & craving. Admittedly, the 1910 is probably my current favorite followed by the 1897, but I find myself reaching for almost all of these bottles (including the 100 rye) and keep most of them on hand at all times. That’s what I love about the Old Forster line-there’s pretty much a bottle that scratches just about any itch I’ve got without any hunting. And that’s a company I want to (and do) support. Thanks for the video.
Man, I love bourbon. And I can only give people my own opinions of them. I try to make it fun with videos like this to where I’m try and shine light on other others I throughly enjoy. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers Sean, I have a couple other tier list videos in this same style if you’re interested in those. I also do whatever the heck else I feel like doing! We love nerds who drink bourbon over here!
I recently moved in to some Old Forester bottles. the 1910 Old Fine Whiskey is now my current splurge. But for a daily sipper, the BIB wins, especially with a big ice cube.
Daniel you’re wild man. Statesmen wouldn’t even make my top 100. Crazy to see how different palates are though. Simply doesn’t matter what anyone else says; all that matters is what YOU like!
@@sethw4569 I’d agree. I think that’s the good thing about it all; all that matters is what YOU like. Taste is so subjective, it really doesn’t matter how much I hate on it. As long as you like it, it’s totally worth it!
Statesman is great. I dont mind it at all. 1910 just blows it out of the water for me. If statesman was cheaper, I would drink it more. It's just for the price point, I would much rather do 1910 but that's me. Doesn't matter what anyone else says, it's what we personally enjoy.
I'm right there with you on the Statesman. Picked up a bottle to take to a friends house for dinner. Something about the finish and aftertaste had a chemical taste or something that I REALLY disliked. I'm an Old Forester fanboy and had never had a bottle I didn't like up until that point. Will never buy it again, and left the last quarter of the bottle at my friends house for him to finish!!!
Once you try them all; let me know how you’d rank them! My personal list would go 1920, 1897, 1910, and then far in last is the 1870. I know I ranked 1910 higher than the 1897, but that wasn’t because of personal preference. Super curious as to what you think!
This was exactly how I would rank the full list with the exception of the Statesman...to me it is above the 1870. It's put it at B- as I thought it was better than most people have given it credit.... Also, I have that same T-shirt. Great video!
OF 100 proof was my gateway Old Forester as well. I decided to pick up some OF products after I tried the formerly Brown-Forman black top Early Times Bonded. I bought a bottle of 1910 after the 100 proof. Phenomenal juice! Dessert in a bottle! I can't believe I had been sleeping on Old Forester because the price points on the Whisky Row products made me hesitant. Next bottles I'm planning to pick up are the 1920 and 100 proof rye. I was really surprised by Old Forester! The dark sugar, coffee, chocolate, toffee, toasted marshmallow, graham cracker and tobacco notes are right up my alley on profile preferences. I may not wind up liking every single product from Old Forester but so far it's awesome! I don't think I'll ever get tired of my mash bill #1 favorites Eagle Rare and Stagg from Buffalo Trace though. I guess my top bottle list is going to be growing!
Listen man; stay cheap with your old fashioned. I’d honestly tell you to buy the old forester 100 proof; it’s proofy, it’s full of flavor, it’ll make a good old fashioned. It’ll also make a good neat pour. For $22 it’s hard to beat
I have not had a sip from my Old Forester bottles in awhile, but I think you nailed it! I unfortunately did purchase a bottle of the Statesmen, I agree, it is not good...the 2nd half of the bootle was a small improvement over the 1st half, but not by much. I need to pick up a bottle of OF 100!
To me, the difference in quality and character between the 100 proof and the 1897 is more than substantial enough to justify the price difference. In fact, to me the BIB is their best tasting product in the WR series. I don’t get the 1920 hype; it is a great bourbon, but I honestly think most of the hype is based on the proof, not the taste. I feel in love with the 1910 when I first had it (it is the bottle that made me become a bourbon man), and I still appreciate it every once in a while, especially when I want something different, but to me the BIB is the absolute best tasting. If you swapped the 1897 and the 1920 I would be in 100% agreement with your ranking.
Regardless of where I ranked the 1897, I think it’s an entirely overlooked and underrated bottle. Where it’s ranked is debatable, but it’s such a great pour
I opened my first bottle 1897 with friends and company. The overall impression was medicinal. After that night, I put the bottle on the shelf for a coupleof months and then gave the BIB another try. I was well rewarded for waiting. This is everybit as good as many other BIB whiskeys.
Great review of the list, glad you didn't put it in the a, and agree with pretty much all the places where you put all the bottles. I didn't hate the Statesman but it was definitely low on the list.
I'll put Statesman over 1870 & 1897 all day, 86 is okay, 100 is very good, 1910 is excellent and 1920 is my favorite. My SiB is HOT!!!! I have another not opened yet so curious to see how they compare.
I love everything Old Forester, and 1910 is my Fav. I have at least 1 bottle of each, except for the Statesman and 117 series. I have not seen a favorable review of the Statesman, so it is not on my shelf. I have a bottle of OF Single Barrel Barrel Strength, but waiting for a special occasion to open it. Great reviews.
Our tastes in Old Forester bourbons are similar. The 100 proof is my fav bottle, but I only bought the 1870 once and not since. Love the rest of the whiskey row series especially 1920!
I agree that 1897 is underrated, I like it a lot BUT not as much as 1910 & 1920. The Statesman isn't bad, but kinda woody for my taste and as you said does not even compare remotely to 1897, 1910 or 1920 so for that price .... it's a no for me
The best bet is to take what i say with a grain of salt and try everything for yourself. I think you’re on the right track. If you love the 100 proof and maybe aren’t ready to drink higher proof, the 1897 is a great stepping stone into the 1920. I’d say go 86,100,1897, 1920. Throw 1910 in there wherever you want because it’s so different that it just deserves its own thing lol
Another UA-camr mentioned that Old Forester Statesman is actually most similar out of any of their other offerings to Birthday Bourbon. I'd be interested to see what you think.
Well, I haven’t tried many birthday bourbons. I have never owned one either. But from the ones I’ve tried, they taste nothing a like. I sure hope that they don’t taste like statesman…
I finally tried the 1870 recently when I was at the distillery. That is most definitely my least favorite Old Forester product I've had so far. I've had the 1897, 1910, 1920, 86 proof and 100 proof which are all better for me. I was pleasantly surprised with the 1897 BiB when I tried that at the distillery. It is quite good. I will say that my wife (who doesn't drink much whiskey) liked the 1870 the best from the Whiskey Row line up.
1920 is what Early Times Bottled in Bond wants to be. (I love both btw) I’d say it has similar tasting notes for like $25, which is a steal. I haven’t tried Old Forester 100 proof yet though, so I guess I’ll have to try that out.
If you like early times, I highly recommend trying the 100 proofer OF. It’s a mainstay in the wrench household. Daily sipper, drunk sipper, take to the lake sipper; it does it all to me.
New Sub, stumbled onto this b/c of the OF content. Couldnt agree more. OF is my go to - any/all of them.. If i had to pick my favorite - its tight but i prefer 1910 just slightly over 1920. That said, I did happen to randomly walk into a liquor store in SC and found a 1924 - Couldn't believe it and snatched it right up. Its outstanding - and its worth getting your hands on one if you're an OF'r like you seem to be.
Great video! Really like the OF products I have had. I also really like the 100º Rye. I do like the Statesman when I tried it, so I have a bottle - hope it will be in my profile wheelhouse.
I typically wear a large and they only had a medium when I was there. I’d say they run true to size, if not a little fitted around the arms which I’m okay with!
As a self proclaimed Old Forester fanboy. I couldnt agree more with this list. Statesman is just aweful. And 1920 and 1910 are the cream of the crop. Now that the 10yr 1924 is out, I'd put that on the A level. If it were $50 cheaper, it would EASILY be S tier.
during my tasting of bourbons it seems to me I get a lot of carmel (misspelled) flavors in 89-93 proof. The 100 proof just seems a bit mix of characters of different grains. I'm not a huge fan of the cinnamon flavor at all it really puts off a lot of the flavors. But I had a few months ago the wild turkey rare breed 116 proof, was for sure warm, toasty on a good cold day. Lots of different flavors. So far my worst one I've had was Mark Twain Kentucky straight bourbon, picked that bottle up for 22-25 dollars, tastes very copper (please do a review of this to see if you experience the same thing please). Never again, but these are things I notice and everyones tastes are different. I respect your opinion.
I have the 86 proof, 100 proof, 1897, 1920 and 1870 and statesman and i thought they are all worth the buy, the 86 proof and 100 proof are tough to beat for the price and the 1897 should be in everyone's collection. All of the bottles have their own unique characters to them. I don't dislike the Statesman, but the taste and character of the flavor is kind of different... i've only had one glass of it, but it was really different from the other bottles.. Not bad, not great, just different.. would i recommend it? Sure, but i'd tell someone to get one of the other bottles before the Statesman.
Exactly how I would rank them, maybe 86 would be A-. I haven't had statesman so I can't speak to that one but every description you touched on is exactly how I feel about the bottle. My sibbp is a face melter sadly so mine would be A- / b+
I’ve had several different bottles, some of them were meh whatever and others were out of this world good! The one I have right now is a solid solid bottle
I went back to it. It was decent, but not the savior people thought 1920 was meant to be. Shame bc I built a speak easy and obviously that should have been the lead at my bar.
New to Bourbon, watched this video specifically to see how you ranked statesman because I picked it up and disliked it as well. Wasn’t sure if it was me or the whiskey. I much more prefer Woodford reserve or double oaked, or JD Single Barrel Select. Would not buy the Statesman again.
OF statesman…I really like, but I really dislike the $. That would be my only complaint on it. I really liked it. It’s no 1920, but it’s not as bad IMO as it seems to get on these videos.
Good lord I just opened my first bottle of 1920, and I can't imagine MORE oak in the 1910. WHat an ass whipper. I really live this 1920 though, wow. I'm a bit of a trashy manslut on bourbon, but this is my first one over 40 bucks and I'm deeply impressed.
Let me know if you need guidance. The 1910 is definitely very sweet, but dark. Think dark chocolate, burnt marshmallow. It’s dark; but sweet. So when I say oakier, you’re getting deeper flavors, but definitely different than 1920. I’ve always just contributed the 1910 to a campfire, so that’s always my analogies. I’d ask, that’s your first $60 bottle? What are some other bottles you’ve had before that that you REALLY like? May help me recommend some more bottles in that upper price range
@@TheBourbonWrench That is the helpfulest info I've ever read son. Not just woodier, but deeper. I'll keep an eye out for it when I travel. I am very impressed with the spectrum and quality of the 1920, even though I'm not used to 100+ proof! Yes, definitely my first over 40. I usually save my money for Scotch and just sincerely enjoy bourbon in the 20-30 range. But Scotch keeps getting farther out of control for the value and I've been wanting something different so I got the hair across my butt to ratchet up my bourbon life. I like Maker's pretty well but I get annoyed by the bottle variability. I had one that straight sucked. I had the MM46 once and that was good enough for the money but not exhilarating. I think regular knob creek 9 is my favorite overall profile, which makes sense because I actually like beam white label. I think Baker's 7 is up next based on that. Larceny and Elijah craig SB weren't rebuys for me. Larceny kinda made me mad, not the front of the flavor but that it just stopped having flavor immediately. Dislike Bulleit somewhat. Basil Hayden I used to love but it's definitely outstripped its value a while back. High west blended I like quite a bit. I like their ryes too. Wild turkey 101 is very good but I get tired of it, I need to try a better version and just have more options in the house so I don't drink only that. I used to really enjoy Buffalo Trace even though it's kinda shallow, but it gave me nuclear hangovers and it's not for sale where i live now anyway. I sincerely like Evan Willams, a 30 dollar single barrel I got like 7 years ago was probably my best buy before today. Trying to recall what else is available in my area above 30 (state run stores, no selection, no exceptions). There's a makers in a box I ignored, Old Ezra 7, Mitcher's small batch, OF 100, longbranch, russels 10, 4roses SB, woodford regular, woodford malt, jack daniels' something or other, one of the new smaller bottles with yellow writing. There are a couple others but not many, it really is sparse. Also, there are def a few out of stock, I'm looking around for a russels 13 I swear I saw that. Maybe that's enough information to work with, lol. If I had to make it simpler I'd say I never ever had a problem completing a bottle of Knob 9, even if I think the value is a little thin. Thanks for your help man. I decided to buy some more to celebrate continuing not smoking cigarettes, lol.
Seems like OF should sell the 1897 for like $40 and Maybe the SB 100 proof at $45 and I'd try both. They are the same price as 1910 and 1920 for me so not worth the gamble over the ones I already know I like.
Some of the ones I’ve tried were almost TOO hot lol but they are really great pickups. Especially since that’s basically our only way to get a barrel proof OF!
The only one I’ve tried was a store pick and I was stunned at how little burn there is. You feel the warmth as you swallow it but there is next to zero spice which is crazy given the proof point. I plan to get back to the store and buy a couple more because it’s my favorite bourbon overall right now
just bought my first bottle of OF today then this video comes out. what are the odds? btw i went with 1920 on recommendation. glad to see i chose an S tier.
Hope you enjoy it! But don’t take it just from me, the only ranking that matters is your own! So definitely give some of the other bottles a try and see how you’d rank them!
Statesman is very sweet to me. I don't dislike it at all, but I agree that for the price, 1910 and 1920 are much better. I won't buy another one either.
There are not as many ryes to choose from but an OF Rye tier list would make a great sequel to this video. OF Rye is still one of my favorites and also a great value.
@@thatmuffinman738 man I couldn’t tell you. It was also one glass of it, so it’s hard for me to have a true opinion of it. I’ve heard people really love it so it very well could be better than I remember
I’d agree, but on the other end, I think the other end of SBBS are entirely too hot. You either get amazing bottles, or you get a hot mess. That’s why i ranked it the way I did. Just averaging things out
I liked the Statesman, but did not love it. in my opinion for the price of around $5 more the 1910, 1920 are the better buys. the 86 and 100 proof have to be on the shelf all the time. just great pours for the price. I dont think you can go wrong with Old Forester. just pull the stateman out
I also dislike Statesmen but I’d drink that over 1897 all day. That bottle was hot garbage for me. 1870 was flat and I’d rather go standard 100 proof offering.
I have never had anything old forester. I don't like banana notes so have always passed on this product. It is harder to get in the UK and I can't get the 100 proof, 1910 and 1920.
@@TheBourbonWrench I do, I don't put it above the 1910, 1920 or the single barrel store picks I've had but I do enjoy it in a rotation with 100. Not sure if it's because it was my first Old Forester I've had that skews my opinion on it but I've always enjoyed the pepper and spice I get off it
I’m always disappointed in people that dog on Statesman. 😂 It’s the absolute easiest thing to do, and that’s the disappointing part, from an enthusiast standpoint. Look, some whiskies smell and taste great no matter what the user does. They require no effort or input, and they stand out and please the masses. Easily approachable. Other whiskies simply require more effort to understand and tease out what is going on in them. Statesman is one of those. It requires more effort. But the effort is worth it, because it really has a great standout profile. I do understand why your casual drinker who loves BT and WRDO may have a hard time with Statesman, but when an enthusiast dogs on it, it makes me a bit sad that more effort was not put in to appreciate it. It’s a very nice bottle.
All I can say is that everyone’s palate is different. There’s not a single substance on this planet that is universally loved by all. I think that’s part of the fun. I think part of the fun is also revisiting bottles you once disliked to see if your palate has changed. I’m just a dude who enjoys bourbon and films myself drinking it, there’s bottles I love that you hate and vice versa. Cheers man
@@brandon_sprague Before she left, I heard Jackie say this…almost like it would be a deceptive trade practice to age state. Not OFO, but same warehouses…to me, that will be when Early Times BiB really changes…in two years, when the 4 years of BiB time is just 4 years…on top of new yeast, and the current change in blending.
I did NOT like the Statesman. To be clear, I love OF, but it was light, thin and lacking flavor/character. I do ❤️ proof and have not met a BP that I don't like.
Great rundown and I like the ranking system. But you quit giving us the price you paid. That would have been useful. Price can vary state to state but the spread would likely be similar.
Have to say I’ve had the statesman and it’s fine to me nothing special if forced to choose I think it’s better than the 1870. That’s the worst one to me
I had tried to get into whiskey for a while. I've always been more of a craft beer guy. Couple of my buddies who love whiskey would have me try all sorts and for my amateur palette they all tasted the same and the taste wasn't all that appealing to me. I had come to the sad conclusion that I just wasn't a whiskey guy. One of my buds had spoken glowingly about Old Forester and I'm sure he had me try at some point but I guess it didn't stand out to me. Last year I was visiting my dad who likes to have a daily sip in the evenings - generally stuff like Makers Mark, Elijah Craig, Bullet, etc. As a gift I wanted to get him a bottle of whiskey. I ended up getting the 1920 Prohibition. I had no idea what it tasted like, but took a shot in the dark. I tried it and immediately fell in love with it. I don't know enough to tell you exactly why I like it so much, but it's the only whiskey I drink because it's the only one I truly enjoy. Like after every sip I can't help but say "Damn, that's delicious." It's the only whiskey that does that to me.
Man that’s awesome! Thank you for sharing that with me. That’s the think though, there’s SO many different bottles and they are all different in their own way. It’s so hard to try and convey to people how things TRULY taste because the only way is to try yourself.
I’ll tell you this though; I was the same way when I started getting into bourbon. I didn’t hate it, but nothing was just resonating with me. When I found the bottle that made that light go off, I drank it more and more. The more you drink bourbon, I think your palate will start changing and developing. I think as you continue, you’ll start to find more bottles you like. Loving the 1920 first is a tough one though because it really is a stand out bottle of just being GOOD.
At the end of the day, remember to always just drink what you enjoy! My advice is to ALSO continue to try branching out occasionally. I started getting into wine, but when I’d also go to buy a bottle of bourbon, I’d buy a new wine to try. There was plenty I didn’t care for, but I’ve since honed my palate down and I know which grape varieties I love and those I don’t. It’s all part of the journey!
I know my channel is literally all bourbon, but we accept all alcohol over here! Come hangout during a livestream and chat with the folks there. Wine, whiskey, beer, we have them all! Cheers man, and good luck expanding into the whiskey world!
One of my absolute favorites too. You have good taste!
Thanks for the rankings! In total agreement with Statesman, I did not care for that one at all. I love 1910 and 1920 but 1870 is actually my favorite. I liked the grains coming through on that one a lot. I like how different people can have similar and different favorites within these brands. For those who haven't, the downtown Louisville location is really cool to go to and I recommend it if you're in the area!
I agree with you Trev, the 1910 is my favorite as well. We could probably start a ruckus if we do to much comparison of 1910 to 1920 so . . . That's all I have to say about that.
Lips are sealed!
..keep the secret… two of the best and can still buy in stores.. price is going up but not insane price..yet.
1897 BIB: I opened my first bottle 1897 with friends annd company. The overall impression was medicinal. After that night, I put the bottle on the shelf for a couple of months and then gave the 1897 BIB another try. I was well rewarded for waiting. This is everybit as good as many other BIB whiskeys, and yes, I will purchase this again.
It’s a seriously hidden gem!!
I have been absolutely pissed about bottles only to have them get much better after a few weeks. I don't think it's just your mouth that day, some just are not at their best at first.
Great video. I appreciate how you didn’t just throw all of these bottles into a cage match and declare one winner, which-if we’re being honest-most often tends to be 1920. Nothing wrong with 1920, but I enjoy them all for different reasons and like having different options readily available to me depending on my mood & craving. Admittedly, the 1910 is probably my current favorite followed by the 1897, but I find myself reaching for almost all of these bottles (including the 100 rye) and keep most of them on hand at all times. That’s what I love about the Old Forster line-there’s pretty much a bottle that scratches just about any itch I’ve got without any hunting. And that’s a company I want to (and do) support. Thanks for the video.
Man, I love bourbon. And I can only give people my own opinions of them. I try to make it fun with videos like this to where I’m try and shine light on other others I throughly enjoy. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. Cheers Sean, I have a couple other tier list videos in this same style if you’re interested in those. I also do whatever the heck else I feel like doing! We love nerds who drink bourbon over here!
I recently moved in to some Old Forester bottles. the 1910 Old Fine Whiskey is now my current splurge. But for a daily sipper, the BIB wins, especially with a big ice cube.
I bought 86 first and fell in love with the flavor…then stepped up to the 100…love it more…now I need a 1910 and 1920.
Statesman is one of my favorite whiskeys. Definitely my favorite of the Whiskey Row series.
Daniel you’re wild man. Statesmen wouldn’t even make my top 100. Crazy to see how different palates are though. Simply doesn’t matter what anyone else says; all that matters is what YOU like!
I really like statesmen, seems to be people really like it or completely hate it
@@sethw4569 I’d agree. I think that’s the good thing about it all; all that matters is what YOU like. Taste is so subjective, it really doesn’t matter how much I hate on it. As long as you like it, it’s totally worth it!
I love statesman
Statesman is great. I dont mind it at all. 1910 just blows it out of the water for me. If statesman was cheaper, I would drink it more. It's just for the price point, I would much rather do 1910 but that's me. Doesn't matter what anyone else says, it's what we personally enjoy.
I have the 1870, 1897, and a SB unopened in my collection. Can’t decide which one I want to open first. You are spot on, 1910 and 1920 are delicious.
Doesn’t even matter, they’ll all be opened eventually! Cheers man!
Please don't neglect to try OF 1915, as it is the best of both worlds.
I'm right there with you on the Statesman. Picked up a bottle to take to a friends house for dinner. Something about the finish and aftertaste had a chemical taste or something that I REALLY disliked. I'm an Old Forester fanboy and had never had a bottle I didn't like up until that point. Will never buy it again, and left the last quarter of the bottle at my friends house for him to finish!!!
I’m glad I’m not the only one!!
Old Forester 1920 one of my top 5 Bourbons. We just got the Whiskey Row box set. Can't wait to give them a try. Thanks for the review.
Once you try them all; let me know how you’d rank them! My personal list would go 1920, 1897, 1910, and then far in last is the 1870. I know I ranked 1910 higher than the 1897, but that wasn’t because of personal preference. Super curious as to what you think!
@@TheBourbonWrench Will let you know, planning for our Christmas Show.
This was exactly how I would rank the full list with the exception of the Statesman...to me it is above the 1870. It's put it at B- as I thought it was better than most people have given it credit.... Also, I have that same T-shirt. Great video!
I think the consensus I’ve seen thus far though is that it’s NO ONES favorite. Which is quite telling!
OF 100 proof was my gateway Old Forester as well. I decided to pick up some OF products after I tried the formerly Brown-Forman black top Early Times Bonded. I bought a bottle of 1910 after the 100 proof. Phenomenal juice! Dessert in a bottle! I can't believe I had been sleeping on Old Forester because the price points on the Whisky Row products made me hesitant.
Next bottles I'm planning to pick up are the 1920 and 100 proof rye. I was really surprised by Old Forester! The dark sugar, coffee, chocolate, toffee, toasted marshmallow, graham cracker and tobacco notes are right up my alley on profile preferences. I may not wind up liking every single product from Old Forester but so far it's awesome! I don't think I'll ever get tired of my mash bill #1 favorites Eagle Rare and Stagg from Buffalo Trace though. I guess my top bottle list is going to be growing!
Like the Statesman bottle reminds of the single barrel. So I put OF Signature in my Statesman bottle and get the best of both worlds...Cheers brother
Cheers brother! Might be a good idea!
Love the video👏🏻 a question which one would you prefer to use in old-fashioned?
Listen man; stay cheap with your old fashioned. I’d honestly tell you to buy the old forester 100 proof; it’s proofy, it’s full of flavor, it’ll make a good old fashioned. It’ll also make a good neat pour. For $22 it’s hard to beat
Totally agree with your rankings Trev! I like the 1910 and the single barrel 100 proof the best! And for the price I love the 100!
They are all so good in their own way, everyone just needs to keep those on their shelf!
I have not had a sip from my Old Forester bottles in awhile, but I think you nailed it! I unfortunately did purchase a bottle of the Statesmen, I agree, it is not good...the 2nd half of the bootle was a small improvement over the 1st half, but not by much. I need to pick up a bottle of OF 100!
Just bought the 1897 BIB for my first Old Forester, looking forward to trying it!
Let me know whatcha think! I think you’ll definitely want more old forester!
Agree with all…haven’t tried the BIB but will now!
Good video. While I've never had the single barrels, I totally agree with the rest of your ratings and tier. Love Old Forester!
Cheers man! Definitely give the single barrels a try if you ever come across one
Is my pee a year old but everything you're saying holds true today, 1 year later. Excellent review of these and luckily I agree😂❤
Great review buddy. Love the categories! Great idea on a way to review these great whiskeys
I had a lot of fun doing this style!
You've encouraged me to try the 86 & 100 proof Old Forester. I prefer the 1910 over the 1920, by just a bit
I was lucky to find a bottle of the black & gold SiB a year ago. Secondary pricing for the SiBs is outta control; $350 online.
Send Every person who’s charging/paying $350 for that bottle here and I’ll personally fight them. Not hard to fight morons
I love 1897 - it's sooooo good. Cheers TREV!
I think too many people sleep on that bottle!
To me, the difference in quality and character between the 100 proof and the 1897 is more than substantial enough to justify the price difference. In fact, to me the BIB is their best tasting product in the WR series. I don’t get the 1920 hype; it is a great bourbon, but I honestly think most of the hype is based on the proof, not the taste. I feel in love with the 1910 when I first had it (it is the bottle that made me become a bourbon man), and I still appreciate it every once in a while, especially when I want something different, but to me the BIB is the absolute best tasting. If you swapped the 1897 and the 1920 I would be in 100% agreement with your ranking.
You even say at the end the 100 proof is where OF shines.
Regardless of where I ranked the 1897, I think it’s an entirely overlooked and underrated bottle. Where it’s ranked is debatable, but it’s such a great pour
I opened my first bottle 1897 with friends and company. The overall impression was medicinal. After that night, I put the bottle on the shelf for a coupleof months and then gave the BIB another try. I was well rewarded for waiting. This is everybit as good as many other BIB whiskeys.
Great review of the list, glad you didn't put it in the a, and agree with pretty much all the places where you put all the bottles. I didn't hate the Statesman but it was definitely low on the list.
I think the consensus is there’s not many people who LOVE it
I'll put Statesman over 1870 & 1897 all day, 86 is okay, 100 is very good, 1910 is excellent and 1920 is my favorite. My SiB is HOT!!!! I have another not opened yet so curious to see how they compare.
I love everything Old Forester, and 1910 is my Fav. I have at least 1 bottle of each, except for the Statesman and 117 series. I have not seen a favorable review of the Statesman, so it is not on my shelf. I have a bottle of OF Single Barrel Barrel Strength, but waiting for a special occasion to open it. Great reviews.
Our tastes in Old Forester bourbons are similar. The 100 proof is my fav bottle, but I only bought the 1870 once and not since. Love the rest of the whiskey row series especially 1920!
I agree that 1897 is underrated, I like it a lot BUT not as much as 1910 & 1920. The Statesman isn't bad, but kinda woody for my taste and as you said does not even compare remotely to 1897, 1910 or 1920 so for that price .... it's a no for me
The price definitely hurts the statesman even more than the taste
I liked Statesman. It fell behind 1910 and 1920 for me, but I'd probably give it at least a B. For the price though OF100 is hard to beat.
Is the statesman a bottle you’d replace, or would you rather get another regular 100 proof for half the price?
I love 86 and 100 is just turned up a bit! Can’t wait to try everything OF has to offer!
The best bet is to take what i say with a grain of salt and try everything for yourself. I think you’re on the right track. If you love the 100 proof and maybe aren’t ready to drink higher proof, the 1897 is a great stepping stone into the 1920. I’d say go 86,100,1897, 1920. Throw 1910 in there wherever you want because it’s so different that it just deserves its own thing lol
@@TheBourbonWrench I just got a bottle of wild turkey rare breed barrel proof and that’s the highest proof I have. It’s hot but drinkable
Another UA-camr mentioned that Old Forester Statesman is actually most similar out of any of their other offerings to Birthday Bourbon. I'd be interested to see what you think.
Well, I haven’t tried many birthday bourbons. I have never owned one either. But from the ones I’ve tried, they taste nothing a like. I sure hope that they don’t taste like statesman…
I finally tried the 1870 recently when I was at the distillery. That is most definitely my least favorite Old Forester product I've had so far. I've had the 1897, 1910, 1920, 86 proof and 100 proof which are all better for me. I was pleasantly surprised with the 1897 BiB when I tried that at the distillery. It is quite good. I will say that my wife (who doesn't drink much whiskey) liked the 1870 the best from the Whiskey Row line up.
It’s one of those bottles that’s better to try before you buy so you don’t spend that much money on a bottle you dislike!
Thank you for the boost news on old forester. You got great taste. Hey did you go to work today.🏅🥃👍
Cheers brother!!!
Love this ranking system. Enjoyed your video
1920 is what Early Times Bottled in Bond wants to be. (I love both btw) I’d say it has similar tasting notes for like $25, which is a steal. I haven’t tried Old Forester 100 proof yet though, so I guess I’ll have to try that out.
If you like early times, I highly recommend trying the 100 proofer OF. It’s a mainstay in the wrench household. Daily sipper, drunk sipper, take to the lake sipper; it does it all to me.
Nice list! I like the twitch approach, way more forgiving for maturing palette down the road. It’s future proof! 😜. Cheers Brother 🥃🪓
Hahahah exactly!! A little more approachable way to me
I'm going to pick up some 1920 next time. I like the 100 proof and am working though a bottle now.
Nice review, I prefer the 1910 then the 1920 and the 86 proof. I get the 1920 all day at Costco 46 bucks!
New Sub, stumbled onto this b/c of the OF content. Couldnt agree more. OF is my go to - any/all of them.. If i had to pick my favorite - its tight but i prefer 1910 just slightly over 1920. That said, I did happen to randomly walk into a liquor store in SC and found a 1924 - Couldn't believe it and snatched it right up. Its outstanding - and its worth getting your hands on one if you're an OF'r like you seem to be.
Great video! Really like the OF products I have had. I also really like the 100º Rye. I do like the Statesman when I tried it, so I have a bottle - hope it will be in my profile wheelhouse.
Cheers man! Only way to know is drink it yourself and find out!!
Prohibition got me into bourbon!
I love the 1910 and the classic 100. Normally prefer cask strength but i have bought 2 different bottles and they both were kinda sub par.
Great video very educational. Love that shirt! Wanted to order one from their site. Does it run small or true to size?
I typically wear a large and they only had a medium when I was there. I’d say they run true to size, if not a little fitted around the arms which I’m okay with!
Awesome thank you! @@TheBourbonWrench
As a self proclaimed Old Forester fanboy. I couldnt agree more with this list. Statesman is just aweful. And 1920 and 1910 are the cream of the crop. Now that the 10yr 1924 is out, I'd put that on the A level. If it were $50 cheaper, it would EASILY be S tier.
the 100 proof has readily available and tough to match at that price point, like EW BiB.
I’d even take the OF100 over ew bib any day. Evan Williams is entirely too nutty to me and just doesn’t satisfy my sweet tooth
1920 is my favorite, but is pricey here. So I roll with the 100 and I think it's the best budget on the shelf.
during my tasting of bourbons it seems to me I get a lot of carmel (misspelled) flavors in 89-93 proof. The 100 proof just seems a bit mix of characters of different grains. I'm not a huge fan of the cinnamon flavor at all it really puts off a lot of the flavors. But I had a few months ago the wild turkey rare breed 116 proof, was for sure warm, toasty on a good cold day. Lots of different flavors. So far my worst one I've had was Mark Twain Kentucky straight bourbon, picked that bottle up for 22-25 dollars, tastes very copper (please do a review of this to see if you experience the same thing please). Never again, but these are things I notice and everyones tastes are different. I respect your opinion.
You absolutely nailed it
Cheers buddy!!!
I have the 86 proof, 100 proof, 1897, 1920 and 1870 and statesman and i thought they are all worth the buy, the 86 proof and 100 proof are tough to beat for the price and the 1897 should be in everyone's collection. All of the bottles have their own unique characters to them. I don't dislike the Statesman, but the taste and character of the flavor is kind of different... i've only had one glass of it, but it was really different from the other bottles.. Not bad, not great, just different.. would i recommend it? Sure, but i'd tell someone to get one of the other bottles before the Statesman.
Exactly how I would rank them, maybe 86 would be A-. I haven't had statesman so I can't speak to that one but every description you touched on is exactly how I feel about the bottle. My sibbp is a face melter sadly so mine would be A- / b+
I got the best barrel not hot and it’s 131.5 proof and has so much notes on the nose
I’ve had several different bottles, some of them were meh whatever and others were out of this world good! The one I have right now is a solid solid bottle
Walmart had OF 86 proof for $11 on clearance sale.. I bought the last two 👊🏾
Loved 1920 until I got the new bottle. Like close to drain pour. I’ll give it another shot, but the current bottle I have is bad.
Man I’ve heard people say that. I’ve liked it! I haven’t compared the labels though
I went back to it. It was decent, but not the savior people thought 1920 was meant to be. Shame bc I built a speak easy and obviously that should have been the lead at my bar.
New to Bourbon, watched this video specifically to see how you ranked statesman because I picked it up and disliked it as well. Wasn’t sure if it was me or the whiskey. I much more prefer Woodford reserve or double oaked, or JD Single Barrel Select. Would not buy the Statesman again.
I’m glad you agree man! I will say, never think YOUR palate is the problem. All that matters is what you enjoy!
OF statesman…I really like, but I really dislike the $. That would be my only complaint on it. I really liked it. It’s no 1920, but it’s not as bad IMO as it seems to get on these videos.
Yep the price vs what you get is totally unjustified!
Cool shirt Trev.
Extra schemedium
Good lord I just opened my first bottle of 1920, and I can't imagine MORE oak in the 1910. WHat an ass whipper.
I really live this 1920 though, wow. I'm a bit of a trashy manslut on bourbon, but this is my first one over 40 bucks and I'm deeply impressed.
Let me know if you need guidance. The 1910 is definitely very sweet, but dark. Think dark chocolate, burnt marshmallow. It’s dark; but sweet. So when I say oakier, you’re getting deeper flavors, but definitely different than 1920. I’ve always just contributed the 1910 to a campfire, so that’s always my analogies.
I’d ask, that’s your first $60 bottle? What are some other bottles you’ve had before that that you REALLY like? May help me recommend some more bottles in that upper price range
@@TheBourbonWrench That is the helpfulest info I've ever read son. Not just woodier, but deeper. I'll keep an eye out for it when I travel. I am very impressed with the spectrum and quality of the 1920, even though I'm not used to 100+ proof!
Yes, definitely my first over 40. I usually save my money for Scotch and just sincerely enjoy bourbon in the 20-30 range. But Scotch keeps getting farther out of control for the value and I've been wanting something different so I got the hair across my butt to ratchet up my bourbon life. I like Maker's pretty well but I get annoyed by the bottle variability. I had one that straight sucked. I had the MM46 once and that was good enough for the money but not exhilarating. I think regular knob creek 9 is my favorite overall profile, which makes sense because I actually like beam white label. I think Baker's 7 is up next based on that. Larceny and Elijah craig SB weren't rebuys for me. Larceny kinda made me mad, not the front of the flavor but that it just stopped having flavor immediately. Dislike Bulleit somewhat. Basil Hayden I used to love but it's definitely outstripped its value a while back. High west blended I like quite a bit. I like their ryes too. Wild turkey 101 is very good but I get tired of it, I need to try a better version and just have more options in the house so I don't drink only that. I used to really enjoy Buffalo Trace even though it's kinda shallow, but it gave me nuclear hangovers and it's not for sale where i live now anyway. I sincerely like Evan Willams, a 30 dollar single barrel I got like 7 years ago was probably my best buy before today.
Trying to recall what else is available in my area above 30 (state run stores, no selection, no exceptions). There's a makers in a box I ignored, Old Ezra 7, Mitcher's small batch, OF 100, longbranch, russels 10, 4roses SB, woodford regular, woodford malt, jack daniels' something or other, one of the new smaller bottles with yellow writing. There are a couple others but not many, it really is sparse. Also, there are def a few out of stock, I'm looking around for a russels 13 I swear I saw that.
Maybe that's enough information to work with, lol. If I had to make it simpler I'd say I never ever had a problem completing a bottle of Knob 9, even if I think the value is a little thin. Thanks for your help man. I decided to buy some more to celebrate continuing not smoking cigarettes, lol.
Oh I did see Mckenna green label, forgot that one.
Seems like OF should sell the 1897 for like $40 and Maybe the SB 100 proof at $45 and I'd try both. They are the same price as 1910 and 1920 for me so not worth the gamble over the ones I already know I like.
Even though the single barrel barrel proof can differ a lot I would still put it in S tier assuming you can get it for retail.
Some of the ones I’ve tried were almost TOO hot lol but they are really great pickups. Especially since that’s basically our only way to get a barrel proof OF!
The only one I’ve tried was a store pick and I was stunned at how little burn there is. You feel the warmth as you swallow it but there is next to zero spice which is crazy given the proof point. I plan to get back to the store and buy a couple more because it’s my favorite bourbon overall right now
just bought my first bottle of OF today then this video comes out. what are the odds?
btw i went with 1920 on recommendation. glad to see i chose an S tier.
Hope you enjoy it! But don’t take it just from me, the only ranking that matters is your own! So definitely give some of the other bottles a try and see how you’d rank them!
Old Forester is so good. And the other thing that's good is you can find it! You don't have to hunt to find these like Buffalo Trace bourbons.
I’ve loved the 1920 and 100 proof. Did not like the 1897 and 1910 was a disappointment. Was expecting so much more out of it.
Totally agree with your assessment!🥃
Nicely done.
Cheers brother!
I like your choices
Statesman is very sweet to me. I don't dislike it at all, but I agree that for the price, 1910 and 1920 are much better. I won't buy another one either.
I think the nose on Statesman is amazing. Not as good on the palate. It would be a B for me
Where would you put Old Forester Barrel Strength Rye if you had to put it somewhere?
There are not as many ryes to choose from but an OF Rye tier list would make a great sequel to this video. OF Rye is still one of my favorites and also a great value.
Honestly, I don’t know. But what I CAN tell you is id probably put the 100 proof rye over the bp version. I really enjoy that bottle
@@andrewchance8449 There are only two ryes, so wouldn't be enough for a tier list for Old Forester.
@@TheBourbonWrench Oh really? Do you remember which warehouse / proof you had?
@@thatmuffinman738 man I couldn’t tell you. It was also one glass of it, so it’s hard for me to have a true opinion of it. I’ve heard people really love it so it very well could be better than I remember
The SBBS are very hit and miss, but when you get a hitter, it blows most high end bottles, even allocated ones away.
I’d agree, but on the other end, I think the other end of SBBS are entirely too hot. You either get amazing bottles, or you get a hot mess. That’s why i ranked it the way I did. Just averaging things out
@@TheBourbonWrench I definitely agree with you on that. There's no just good, they are either awesome or a crazy hot mess.
Nice presentation
I liked the Statesman, but did not love it. in my opinion for the price of around $5 more the 1910, 1920 are the better buys. the 86 and 100 proof have to be on the shelf all the time. just great pours for the price. I dont think you can go wrong with Old Forester. just pull the stateman out
That’s a fair assessment. Definitely bottles to give a try if you haven’t had them!
OF with metal caps > than any other OF
Right with you straight up the line 🥃 Cheers
I also dislike Statesmen but I’d drink that over 1897 all day. That bottle was hot garbage for me. 1870 was flat and I’d rather go standard 100 proof offering.
Let’s just go ahead and agree that 1870 and statesmen are a “please don’t buy this” bottle 🤣
I have never had anything old forester. I don't like banana notes so have always passed on this product. It is harder to get in the UK and I can't get the 100 proof, 1910 and 1920.
Well honestly, a lot of the old forester is super banana so maybe it’s good for you hahaha
With the exception of Statesman, unpopular opinion but for me it's an A tier, my list is same as yours
I’m genuinely interested in hearing about how you feel about statesman. You really like it??
@@TheBourbonWrench I do, I don't put it above the 1910, 1920 or the single barrel store picks I've had but I do enjoy it in a rotation with 100. Not sure if it's because it was my first Old Forester I've had that skews my opinion on it but I've always enjoyed the pepper and spice I get off it
I’m always disappointed in people that dog on Statesman. 😂
It’s the absolute easiest thing to do, and that’s the disappointing part, from an enthusiast standpoint.
Look, some whiskies smell and taste great no matter what the user does. They require no effort or input, and they stand out and please the masses. Easily approachable.
Other whiskies simply require more effort to understand and tease out what is going on in them. Statesman is one of those. It requires more effort. But the effort is worth it, because it really has a great standout profile. I do understand why your casual drinker who loves BT and WRDO may have a hard time with Statesman, but when an enthusiast dogs on it, it makes me a bit sad that more effort was not put in to appreciate it. It’s a very nice bottle.
All I can say is that everyone’s palate is different. There’s not a single substance on this planet that is universally loved by all. I think that’s part of the fun. I think part of the fun is also revisiting bottles you once disliked to see if your palate has changed. I’m just a dude who enjoys bourbon and films myself drinking it, there’s bottles I love that you hate and vice versa. Cheers man
@@TheBourbonWrench yessir!
WHISKEY CHEERS😎
Cheers nerd!!!
Statesman is solid. Definitely not a D tier bro. The 1897 should be a D
Luckily everyone’s palates are different otherwise all of our lists would be the same; that would be boring!
why do so many people value the proof? is the taste in high proof that much better?
1870 is also my least favorite. It makes it worse that it's over $50. To me, I get a weird chewing gum flavor and a bit of sourness.
I just don’t think it holds a match to any of the other bottles
Wish more people would call OF out for not having age statements. That’s like bare minimum requirement of respectable whiskey.
It’d be nice if they had an age statement offering, but if somethings good then I don’t mind at the end of the day
To be fair Old Foresters argument would be that thier heat cycled warehouses make traditional age statements kinda pointless.
OF Rye is good, like it along with the bottom shelf 86 and 100 bourbon. Their whiskey row releases are good but not worth the money to me.
@@brandon_sprague Before she left, I heard Jackie say this…almost like it would be a deceptive trade practice to age state. Not OFO, but same warehouses…to me, that will be when Early Times BiB really changes…in two years, when the 4 years of BiB time is just 4 years…on top of new yeast, and the current change in blending.
Taste means EVERYTHING
I did NOT like the Statesman. To be clear, I love OF, but it was light, thin and lacking flavor/character. I do ❤️ proof and have not met a BP that I don't like.
Completely agree with you on the statesman
I think you're crazy to say the signature 100 is better than the Statesman but it's not 25 dollars better than 100 so I wouldn't buy it again.
The amazing thing about our palates are they can be completely different from each other and neither of us are wrong!
Great rundown and I like the ranking system. But you quit giving us the price you paid. That would have been useful. Price can vary state to state but the spread would likely be similar.
Have to say I’ve had the statesman and it’s fine to me nothing special if forced to choose I think it’s better than the 1870. That’s the worst one to me
1920 is thest non allocated bourbon on the market. no question.
Did not like Statesman at all either
Such a weird offering to me. Didn’t like the price either
I'm simple. I'm a 1915 guy.
1920 all the way
I gave my bottle of statesman away. I didn't like it at all.
Luckily I didn’t buy a bottle. Just a pour. Not on my buy list