The Verdict: How Good Are Old Forester’s 2026 President’s Choice Bourbon and Rye Whiskeys?

(Photo: Old Forester)

Old Forester’s President’s Choice series returns Saturday, and for the second consecutive year, it’s launching with both a bourbon and a rye expression, timed to land on National Bourbon Day and the eighth anniversary of the Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row. Both releases are single barrels aged 7 to 9 years, bottled at barrel strength between 110 and 125 proof and priced at $225.

The series traces back to 1964, when former Old Forester President George Garvin Brown II began offering private single barrels to select customers. Nearly six decades later, the modern version is one of the most anticipated annual releases on the Old Forester calendar — and this year, one of the two bottles is clearly the one to chase.

The Bourbon: Spectacular

Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon 2026 drinks hot (at least the barrel we tasted did). But push through the heat and there’s remarkable flavor to be enjoyed.

The nose is rich and powerful: chocolate frosting, blueberry compote, oatcakes, caramel, cinnamon, cherry cola and gingerbread. The palate has a thick, almost milkshake-like viscosity, opening with crème brûlée, blueberries and blackberries before a big, smoky seared oak note takes over, followed by leather, tobacco, and a dark chocolate-covered macadamia note joined by cherries and orange peel. The finish leads with a nutty trio of macadamia, hazelnut and walnut before moving into cornbread, a zing of bright pomegranate, cocoa powder, dark roast coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and fluffy vanilla cake.

It tastes oaky and well-aged in the best way, and the the pour filled with delicious flavors that complement one other at every turn. This is spectacular bourbon.

For the complete tasting notes and to see what score we gave it, click here.

The Rye: Good, but the Bourbon Wins

Old Forester President’s Choice Rye 2026 is a spice bomb, and a good one. The nose is dry and spiced, with oak, clove, chicory, raisins and browned butter. The palate is warm, opening with cola, clove, sassafras, pine and nutmeg before moving into anise, orange peel, ginger and crème brûlée, with a clean orchard fruit note of apple and pear emerging after the whiskey has been sitting out awhile. The finish opens hot with powdered ginger and nutmeg before softening into clove, cocoa and marshmallow fluff.

It’s a very good rye whiskey. But tasted alongside this year’s bourbon, it doesn’t have the same mouthfeel or complexity, and it comes up short by comparison.

For the complete tasting notes and to see what score we gave it, click here.

The Verdict

Both releases are well-made, barrel-strength whiskeys worth tasting. But if the choice comes down to one bottle, the bourbon is the one to find. It’s the standout of this year’s lineup, and one of the better releases Old Forester has put out under the President’s Choice name in recent memory.

President’s Choice Bourbon and Rye 2026 go on sale Saturday, June 13 at 10 a.m. ET at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville, with additional bottles available online for customers in Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Washington, D.C.