Whiskey Review: Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond

Heavy on sweet flavors like honey and caramel, with notes of dark fruit and oak. Finish: A distinct smokiness pops out, and oak predominates in the warm, moderately long finish. Some caramel remains. Overall, this is a well-balanced bourbon with some complexity and an overall approachable character. There’s nothing unexpected here, which, it could be argued, is the whole point of the bonded label. Though the $50 pricetag might be a little steep, I give this very drinkable whiskey a score of 89.