Hot on the heels of the re-launch of Old Forester’s 1924 bourbon earlier this month comes the return of another fan favorite from the Kentucky distillery. Extra Old is back after it was first launched nearly three years ago, but this whiskey is only available in limited numbers so you should start hunting it now if you’re intent on getting a bottle.
Extra Old is another expression in the distillery’s long-running 117 Series, which in addition to the aforementioned 1924 release has also included bottles like High Angels’ Share, Whiskey Row Fire, and Warehouse K. Depsite its name, Extra Old is not some ultra-mature bourbon aged for many years in oak barrels before being bottled. It is, however, older than other comparable releases due to the secondary maturation to which the whiskey is subjected. And if it sounds kind of similar to Woodford Reserve’s Double Oaked (or even Double Double Oaked), there’s a reason for that.
According to the brand, Extra Old starts out as the standard 1910 Old Fine Whisky, which is already double-barreled in heavily toasted and lightly charred barrels after initial maturation. But Extra Old is left in those barrels for longer—a total of 18 months—to soak up even more flavor before bottling. Compare that to Old Forester‘s Extra Extra Old release, which is finished in secondary barrels for a full two years. “This expression showcases the exceptional flavors that can come from the second barrel, and how we can layer the flavors we achieve from maturation through the double barreling process,” said master taster Melissa Rift in a statement. “Whiskey lovers can taste the history captured in this bottle.”
So what does history actually taste like? We were not able to sample this 93 proof whiskey yet, but official tasting notes say there are notes of chocolate-covered cherries, burnt caramel, and graham cracker on the nose. That’s followed by spiced pear, apple, and cinnamon graham cracker on the palate, with charred oak and even more cinnamon on the finish. Extra Old is only available in 375-ml bottles which you can find for sale at the distillery for $65 apiece. As you might expect, bottles of the previous release are selling for much, much higher than that—as much as $1,500 at secondary websites like Cask Cartel. That’s clearly way too much to spend on this bottle, but if you find one for close to the suggested retail price this is a bourbon worth trying.
