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Old Forester 117 Series Bottled in Bond Batch 001 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky arrives at a precise 100 proof (50% ABV) in a 375ml bottle, an exceptional regulation-driven expression within Old Forester's limited 117 Series from Louisville, Kentucky. Released in July 2023 by Brown-Forman's founding brand - America's first bottled bourbon, sealed and signed by George Garvin Brown in 1870 - Bottled in Bond marks a dedicated homage to historic whiskey integrity. This specialized release strictly honors the transformative Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 by featuring liquid drawn entirely from a single, highly distinct distillation season: the wet and warm late spring of 2014.
The name describes adherence to rigid federal aging standards rather than a mere proof designation. To earn this prestigious title, the entire batch was distilled by a single distiller at a single distillery during one season, matured for a minimum of four years in federally bonded U.S. warehouses, and brought to the bottle at an exact 50% alcohol by volume. This rigorous process locks in the hyper-seasonal character of the 2014 distillation run, and the distillery team describes the result as a masterfully balanced showcase of caramelized fruit depth and vibrant spice born from traditional Kentucky maturation.
In the glass, the official tasting notes open with confectionery aromas of stewed blackberries, caramelized apricot, and sweet dates over undertones of soft nuttiness and delicate whipped cream. A rich medley of caramelized fruits coats the palate while a subtle hint of refreshing spearmint adds unique texture, and the finish leads with a velvety transition from dried fruits into heavy cream before settling into a long, beautifully complex herbal tea finish. Bottled in Bond joins a 117 Series lineup - named for the brand's original address at 117 W. Main St. and launched in 2021 - that includes 1910 Extra Extra Old, Whiskey Row Fire, and High Angels' Share.
For collectors, Batch 001 carries weight beyond the liquid. The 117 Series is Old Forester's experimental canvas, bottled in the distinctive 375ml format and released in limited quantities through the Old Forester Distillery and select Kentucky retailers, which keeps every batch scarce beyond the Bluegrass State. As a flawless representation of strict 19th-century distillation benchmarks met with modern blending expertise, Bottled in Bond Batch 001 stands as an essential historical chapter in Old Forester's modern history and a natural cornerstone for any serious bourbon collection.