Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Kentucky Straight Bourbon is an electrifying, historic powerhouse within Old Forester's acclaimed Whiskey Row Series. This remarkable expression commemorates the enactment of the Volstead Act in 1920, which ushered in the era of National Prohibition. During the thirteen years of nationwide alcohol prohibition, Old Forester was one of only six distilling companies in Kentucky granted a coveted federal permit to continue producing and bottling whiskey for "medicinal purposes." As a result, Old Forester holds the singular distinction of being the only bourbon continuously distilled, bottled, and marketed by the same founding family before, during, and after Prohibition.

Distilled and matured in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Brown-Forman distilling facilities and the historic Old Forester Distillery on Main Street's historic Whiskey Row, this bourbon is steeped in urban distilling heritage. Brown-Forman is unique among major American distillers in that it owns and operates its own cooperage, the Brown-Forman Cooperage in Louisville. This vertical integration allows the distillery to craft custom barrels featuring proprietary heavy toast and char profiles specifically tailored to maximize vanillin, caramelization, and deep wood sugars during maturation.

Old Forester 1920 is crafted from the distillery's signature high-rye mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley. The spirit is fermented with Old Forester's proprietary yeast strain—which has been cultivated and preserved since the late nineteenth century—and distilled in copper column stills. The whiskey enters the barrel at a relatively low 100 proof. Over years of maturation in heated warehouses, evaporation concentrates the alcohol, exiting the cask at a bold 115 proof. In homage to the medicinal bottlings of the 1920s, which were legally required to be barrel proof, Old Forester 1920 is bottled at that exact historic barrel strength of 115 proof.

At 57.5% alcohol by volume (115 proof), Old Forester 1920 delivers an explosion of decadent, dark confectionery flavors and rich wood spice. The elevated proof creates a syrupy, mouth-coating viscosity filled with notes of dark chocolate fudge, Luxardo cherry, roasted marshmallow, toasted graham cracker, and cedar wood char. Despite its formidable strength, the alcohol heat is remarkably well-integrated, providing an exhilarating, warming chest glow rather than an aggressive burn.

While bold connoisseurs will relish drinking this expression neat to experience its unrestrained intensity, adding a splash of spring water or serving over a large rock transforms the whiskey, unlocking lush notes of banana foster, maple syrup, and pecan pie. It is also a legendary cocktail spirit, creating what many bartenders consider the ultimate Boulevardier or rich Old Fashioned, where its high proof easily cuts through mixers.

Old Forester 1920 is an essential acquisition for enthusiasts who crave high-proof, barrel-forward intensity and authentic American distilling history. It serves as an impressive gift for serious bourbon collectors, an unforgettable centerpiece for tasting flights, and a quintessential showcase of Louisville craftsmanship.