Old Forester Rye Whiskey
Old Forester Rye Whiskey is a 750mL Kentucky straight rye whisky bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), distilled by Old Forester in Louisville, Kentucky from a historic recipe acquired in 1940 — 65% rye, 20% malted barley and 15% corn, fermented with the house's proprietary yeast strain. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 50% (100 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Mash bill: 65% rye, 20% malted barley, 15% corn
- Style: Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky — Old Forester's first
- Recipe: Historic recipe acquired in 1940 by Owsley Brown I
- Distillery: Old Forester, Louisville
- Origin: Kentucky
Old Forester's First Kentucky Straight Rye
When Old Forester launched this rye in 2019, it was the house's first Kentucky Straight Rye Whisky and its first new recipe in nearly 150 years — drawn from a historic recipe acquired in 1940 by Owsley Brown I. The unusually high share of malted barley lets the mash ferment naturally without added enzymes and gives the rye a floral balance against its spice; Old Forester distills every drop itself and produces every barrel. Its honours include Double Gold at the 2019 International Spirits Challenge and Gold at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Browse the house on the Old Forester vendor page, or explore our rye whiskey collection.
Tasting Notes
Per the brand's current product page: moody brown sugar and molasses on the aroma with a hint of malt, playful root beer and dark fruit; burnt sugar, blood orange, black pepper, sweet licorice and subtle oak on the taste; and a long, lingering finish of black pepper and citrus oils rounded by toasted malt.
How to Enjoy
At 100 proof it is built to hold its own in a Manhattan or Sazerac, and it pours just as well neat, where the blood orange and licorice show. More Kentucky rye is in our rye whiskey collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mash bill of Old Forester Rye?
65% rye, 20% malted barley and 15% corn. The high malted-barley share is the recipe's signature — it allows fully natural fermentation and adds a floral character that balances the rye spice.
How old is Old Forester Rye?
The brand makes no age statement for this expression; it is bottled at 100 proof as a Kentucky straight rye whisky.
Who makes Old Forester Rye?
Old Forester (Brown-Forman) in Louisville, Kentucky — the brand founded by George Garvin Brown, the first to seal bourbon in a glass bottle in 1870.
A 1940 recipe at full 100 proof — order Old Forester Rye Whiskey online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
