Review: Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon and Rye 2026
Review: Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon and Rye 2026
Last year Old Forester began releasing its President’s Choice whiskeys to retail for the first time, at least on a limited basis. The two whiskeys — a bourbon and a rye — are now making their return to the market for 2026.
The formula hasn’t changed. These are all single barrel releases, including a collection of picks aged between 7 and 9 years, bottled at cask strength. Proof points for both the rye and bourbon vary between 110 and 125 proof. Our tasting samples didn’t include barrel number information, but we do know age and proof, which are reported in our tasting notes below.
Thoughts follow.
Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon 2026 Review
From an 8 year old barrel at 57.5% abv. Delightful nose, well-spiced with ample orange peel, toffee, and vanilla. Cinnamon and clove notes pop throughout, growing in strength as the whiskey develops. There’s a great balance between spicy and fruity, the combination of the two making for a lively and enchanting entree. The palate keeps the theme, arguably displaying an even more spice-forward character than the nose, its cinnamon/allspice attack tempered by notes of almond and some walnut. Oily orange notes make a big resurgence before a surprising punch of red berries arrives. Eucalyptus, more cinnamon, and some nutmeg all give the finish a holiday feel, culminating in a punch of well-spiced banana bread. An exemplary barrel that’s absolutely dripping with flavor. 115 proof as reviewed. A / $225 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Old Forester President’s Choice Rye 2026 Review
This sample was pulled from a 7 year old barrel, at 60.5% abv. As with the 2025 release, there’s no mistaking the power of this rye, which is bold and grass-forward, a mix of mint and rosemary melding with pastoral, fresh-cut hay on the effusive nose. The palate makes room for some sweetness in the form of brown butter and vanilla custard, though the racy abv is much more visible here than in the bourbon. Banana bread, heavily laced with cloves, nutmeg, and ginger, is the clear connotation, with charry wood notes clinging to the finish. Water is helpful at softening the experience, but it doesn’t provide much new nuance aside from creating a clearer gingerbread cookie quality, decorated with hard sugar icing. A hint of Mexican chocolate as it fades. 121 proof as reviewed. B+ / $225 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Old Forester President's Choice Bourbon 2026
USD225
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