Taste test Old Forester8217s Triple Char finds spice
In this taste test Old Forester8217s Triple Char bourbon, Robb Report critic Jonah Flicker finds unexpected crispness and spice in the new 117 Series release—the first Old Forester bottling made entirely from whiskey distilled at the brand’s downtown Louisville Whiskey Row micro-distillery.
The limited pour is matured in Shively, scores 88, and carries a $65 SRP at the distillery. For more luxury lifestyle coverage, see Luxury Real Estate & Dream Homes.
Key Takeaways
- Triple Char is the first 117 Series release distilled entirely on Louisville’s Whiskey Row.
- Barrels were charred three times longer than usual to intensify wood-driven flavor.
- Flicker notes crisp citrus, pepper, and sour cherry alongside classic dessert tones.
- The bourbon is seven years old, bottled at 115 proof, and scored 88 of 100.
- Bottles are available now at the distillery for an SRP of $65.
What makes Old Forester Triple Char different?
Old Forester’s 117 Series, launched in 2021, rotates limited expressions in small bottles with varied maturation approaches. Past releases include High Angels’ Share, Whiskey Row Fire, Scotch Cask Finish, and Extra Extra Old.
According to Robb Report’s Taste Test review, nearly all Old Forester whiskey is distilled at Brown-Forman’s large Shively plant outside Louisville. The downtown Main Street micro-distillery produces only about 30 to 40 barrels a week. Triple Char is notable because it is composed entirely of that Whiskey Row liquid, though maturation still happened in Shively.
The name points to process, not a second barrel finish. Triple Char means the aging barrels were charred three times as long as usual, intended to pull more vanilla, oak, and caramel from the wood. That differs from double-maturation releases such as Extra Old, which use a second charred barrel.
How does the taste test Old Forester8217s pour actually sip?
Flicker writes that the dram does not sip like a typical Old Forester. Leading notes include crispness and spice, with sharp citrus, pepper, and sour cherry. Softer classic flavors follow on the palate: pecan pie, ripe plum, vanilla, coffee ice cream, and honey.
At 115 proof, the whiskey has assertive punch without tipping into harsh aggression. The distillery lists the liquid as seven years old. Flicker’s score of 88 lands in Robb Report’s “Very Good” band—delicious enough to buy, but not a secondary-market chase piece.
Where can you buy Triple Char, and who should try it?
Bottles are available now at the distillery at a suggested retail price of $65, with secondary-market appearances expected soon. Flicker recommends the pour for both casual Old Forester fans and 117 Series completists.
He also notes it would be instructive to compare this whiskey against a regular-char barrel and a core Old Forester expression to isolate how Main Street distillation changes the profile. For now, Triple Char is the clearest public example of that Whiskey Row spirit.
Brown-Forman, which also owns Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel’s, continues to use the 117 Series to spotlight experimental maturation and site-specific distillation. This release’s downtown provenance plus the extended barrel char give collectors a concrete reason to pay attention beyond the usual limited-edition cycle.