Old Forester’s Debuts the First Bourbon Made Entirely at Its Louisville Distillery — and We Tasted It

Old Forester has a new milestone release, and this one’s about geography as much as it’s about the barrel.

The brand today announced Triple Char Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, the newest entry in its 117 Series and the first Old Forester expression made completely from whiskey distilled at Old Forester Distillery on Louisville’s Main Street. The Main Street site has operated as a working distillery since 2018, so this release effectively marks the moment that stock has matured enough to stand entirely on its own.

To mark the occasion, Old Forester aged this bourbon in barrels charred three times longer than standard for the brand. The extended char pushes more contact between the whiskey and the wood, aiming for a deeper, spice-forward profile.

The whiskey does not bear an age statement but is about 7 years old, all distilled in 2019, Old Forester told The Daily Pour.

“Triple Char is an exciting new chapter for Old Forester and our 117 Series,” Old Forester Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo said in a news release. “Not only is it the first expression made entirely from whiskey distilled at our Main Street distillery, but the extended barrel char allows us to showcase that spirit in a completely new way.”

Bottled at 57.5% ABV (115 proof), Old Forester Triple Char is available at the Old Forester Distillery and select Kentucky retailers at a suggested retail price of $64.99 per 375-milliliter bottle.

Triple Char joins a 117 Series lineup that’s included releases like 1910 Extra Extra Old and High Angels’ Share since the series debuted in 2021.

Our Review

We got a sample ahead of release. Expect a sweet, slightly grain-forward nose, a palate that leans hard into charred oak alongside cinnamon roll and stone fruit, and a finish that swings from tobacco to gingerbread to toasted marshmallow.

Click here to read our full review and see what score we gave it.