Old Forester releases new 117 series: Rum Finish Bourbon

Old Forester

Old Forester is known for keeping it simple with its affordable bourbons and rye whiskeys, but its annual Birthday Bourbon release also sees it enter the pantheon of unicorn whiskeys. The Kentucky distillery also has a few other collections in its portfolio, including the limited-edition 117 Series, which brings a new aging method into play for each release. The latest is called Rum Finish, and it’s a first for this particular whiskey range.

The 117 Series launched in 2021 and has given whiskey fans some pretty solid releases since its launch, including High Angels’ Share (made from barrels with high evaporation rates), Whiskey Row Fire (barrels selected by the Louisville Fire Department to commemorate the fire that devastated the city’s Whiskey Row nearly a decade ago), Warehouse H (made up of barrels from a specific warehouse), and 1910 Extra Extra Old (aged an additional two years in heavily charred barrels). The new Rum Finish, according to the distillery, is meant to pay homage to the days when the Ohio River, which flows behind the Whiskey Row distillery site, was used to transport barrels of spirits like rum.

Bourbon aged in rum barrels can be truly delicious, as evidenced by some other examples of this particular type of secondary aging. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage was a truly fantastic bourbon aged in Appleton Estate rum barrels, and there have been many others over the years, including Jefferson’s Old Rum Cask Finish, Kentucky Peerless Rum Barrel Finished Bourbon, Angel’s Envy Rye, Barrell Tale of Two Islands, and Redemption Rum Cask Finish.

The rum in question for this new whiskey was aged in those barrels for at least four years, and the bourbon was added for a second half-year aging. Old Forester won’t reveal exactly which distillery the rum comes from, and there are far too many to really speculate. But Brown-Forman, Old Forester’s parent company that also owns Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, acquired Venezuelan rum brand Diplomatico about a year ago, so that’s a possible source. We didn’t get a chance to try a sample of this whiskey ourselves, but Old Forester’s assistant master distiller Caleb Trigo provided some tasting notes. “By aging our signature bourbon in these rum barrels for about six months, we complemented and highlighted Old Forester’s sweet flavors with hints of brown sugar and molasses, enhancing its rich character,” he said. “Rum Finish is a sweet addition to the range that whiskey lovers – and rum drinkers – will love.”

Old Forester 117 Series: Rum Finish is only available at the distillery or for purchase on the Old Forester website (RRP $60 for a 375ml bottle). Previous releases of the 117 Series can be found on sites like Cask Cartel (at extremely inflated prices as they tend to be collectors’ items), and the entire Old Forester range is now available from ReserveBar.