During the late 19th century, an overwhelming number of distilleries throughout the United States were still not aging their whiskey. As a result, some retailers would add juices and syrups to sweeten the whiskey, while others would add acid and tobacco to give their whiskey its signature, amber hue.In 1870, George Garvin Brown — a young pharmaceuticals salesman from Kentucky — saw the need for a consistently high-quality whiskey that would remain unadulterated after distillation. After saving $5,500, Brown and his brother opened the doors to J.T.S. Brown & Bro.

Distillery and began distilling bourbon. Unlike other distilleries at the time, Brown aged his bourbon, which was named Old Forester, in oak casks and bottled it in a sealed glass bottle to ensure authenticity and quality.

Since its introduction in 1870, Old Forester has been on the market continuously, even during Prohibition, when it continued to be sold for medicinal purposes. It is the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during and after Prohibition.

Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the second release in Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series, which aims to “highlight the distillery’s significant milestones and production innovations” throughout its nearly 150 year history.

The whiskey pays homage to the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 (27 C.F.R. 5.21), which stipulates that any spirit labeled as “bonded”or “bottled-in-bond” must be the product of one distiller at one distillery during one distillation season. In addition, the Act requires that bonded spirits be aged in a federally bonded warehouse under U.S. government supervision for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof.

Old Forester’s “sealed-in-quality” concept preempted the Bottled-In-Bond Act of 1897 and Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made according to the distillery’s exacting standards which date back to the 19th century.

As a result, the whiskey has a robust aroma of caramel, coffee beans and starfruit, which leads to a deep palate filled with oak, vanilla and gingerbread. The finish is slightly hot and full of flavor, including notes of sugar cereal, burnt toast and cloves.

Pick up an authentic bottled-in-bond whiskey today!