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 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the first 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 is named for another practice pioneered by George Garvin Brown

• batch distillation. Brown was the first to batch together bourbons from multiple distilleries in order to ensure consistency of flavor.
• In homage to Brown’s pioneering spirit, Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is made by batching together bourbons from various warehouses at the distillery, creating a final product that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Old Forester 1870 Original Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a lively aroma of caramel apple, vanilla bean and oak, which leads to a palate filled with leather, tobacco and vibrant spices including cinnamon and ginger. The finish is dry and smooth, with notes of oak, candybar and more baking spices.

Pick up an original bourbon which has influenced countless others today!