Old Forester 1920
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Old Forester 1920 is widely considered a high-proof staple that offers excellent value and availability. It is frequently praised for its rich, traditional bourbon profile featuring notes of chocolate, cherry, and oak, though it is polarizing due to its significant ethanol burn, which some describe as "hot" or "medicinal."
Pros
- Excellent value-to-price ratio, especially when found on sale
- Highly available compared to other sought-after high-proof bourbons
- Rich flavor profile with notes of chocolate, mocha, dark cherry, and oak
- Strong traditional bourbon nose and palate
Cons
- High ethanol presence can make it feel "hot" or like a "hot mess" to some
- Occasional reports of medicinal or heavy ethanol notes
- Some users feel recent bottlings (new labels) lack the depth of older versions
- Can feel thin or one-dimensional compared to more expensive offerings like the 1924
Caveats
- At 115 proof, it may require a rest in the glass or a drop of water to mellow the heat
- Opinions are split on whether it is better than the lower-proof, double-barreled Old Forester 1910
Best for
- Experienced drinkers who enjoy high-proof "daily drinkers"
- Value-conscious buyers looking for a reliable alternative to Rare Breed or Larceny BP
- Fans of oak-forward and chocolate-heavy finishes
Avoid if
- You are sensitive to ethanol burn or prefer lower-proof spirits
- You prefer the sweeter, thicker profile of double-oaked bourbons
- You find medicinal or "cherry cough syrup" notes off-putting
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is older (median age ~387 days), and while bourbon profiles are relatively stable, batch variation over time means confidence is medium.
Sentiment
15 positive (75%) · 3 mixed (15%) · 2 negative (10%)
Trust + time weighted score: +70% · raw score 65%
What redditors said (10 of 20)
Old Forester 1920.
Old forester 1920
Unless you prefer double barrel bourbon there's not much upside to this over 1920.
I love 1920.
for my money 1920 some of the best value bourbon you can get especially when it’s on sale!
The first time I tried 1920 I didn’t care for it. My good friend at my local store suggested I try it again, and I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was.
The old label 1920 had a distinct graham cracker note mixed in with a bright cherry note with a tad bit of smokiness. Legitimately one of the best bourbons I have had. ever since the new label 1920 has come out it just hasn’t been the same. It’s good, but doesn’t reach the heights of previous years.
I love the stuff. It is probably my favorite readily available reasonably priced bourbon alongside Rare Breed and the Larceny BP batches. I took a year long sabbatical from bourbon and this was my bottle back and it is so delicious to me.
Is it outrageously outstanding? No. Did it maybe in all honestly fall slightly short of my expectations? Probably. But does it deserve it's good reputation as the premier available higher proof Old Forester offering? Absolutely. The nose is rich and the palate my favorite part of the sip. I just wish there was some more thickness to it and in spite of it being enjoyable I wish the finish had more to it. I don't think the flavors were necessarily robust, especially not for the higher proof point and it felt somewhat one dimensional.
The BTAC stuff has in my experience all been seriously great, but that doesn't mean the rest of their lineup is markedly better than say a Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Tenn. Whiskey/Rye, or an Old Forester 1920, or a Wild Turkey Rare Breed, or a million other things.
Compare
Old Forester 1920 vs Old Forester 1924Old Forester 1920 vs Wild Turkey Rare BreedOld Forester 1920 vs Eagle Rare
Related
- Sony Alpha a7 IV · related · 102 mentions
- Old Forester 1924 · related · 93 mentions
- Niche Zero · related · 89 mentions
- Weller Antique 107 · related · 83 mentions
- Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel · related · 82 mentions
- Eagle Rare · related · 76 mentions