Old Forester Celebrates Repeal Day With 130-Proof Bourbon Release

(Photo: Old Forester)

Old Forester announced on Monday the release of a new limited-edition whiskey that draws on the brand’s Prohibition-era history. The Old Forester 117 Series: Prohibition Era Still Proof is bottled at 130 proof, the same distillation proof used during a 100-day “distiller’s holiday” leading up to the repeal of Prohibition.

The release coincides with Repeal Day, the anniversary of the ratification of the 21st Amendment — which repealed Prohibition — in 1933. Old Forester was among a small group of distilleries that held federal licenses during the 1930s to produce whiskey for medicinal purposes. The company says the new expression reflects the style of whiskey produced under those permits, aiming for an uncut profile tied to that period.

“This release is a tribute to the ingenuity that allowed Old Forester to endure and emerge stronger during one of the most challenging periods for American whiskey,” Old Forester Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo said in a news release. “This bourbon offers a glimpse into the intensity and authenticity of our Prohibition heritage.”

Old Forester debuted the whiskey at a Repeal Day event at its Louisville distillery at 4:30 p.m. EST on Dec. 5. Attendees will have access to the first bottles, along with food and music.

The Prohibition Era Still Proof release will also appear in limited quantities online at shop.oldforester.com for $64.99, shipping only to the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Dakota. Select Kentucky retailers will also carry it starting Dec. 5.

Old Forester, the founding brand of Brown-Forman, traces its roots to 1870.