Kentucky distillery Old Forester first launched its President’s Choice single-barrel whiskey in 1964, but at the time you had to purchase a whole barrel to get a bottle. It relaunched the brand in 2018 when the small Whiskey Row distillery opened in Louisville (purchase of an entire barrel not required). And today the distillery has announced that this bourbon, previously a distillery-only release, will be available nationally—and it’s adding a rye whiskey to the lineup.
As mentioned before, the history of President’s Choice dates back to the 1960s, when Old Forester president George Garvin Brown II launched it as a single-barrel release (at a time when whiskey was falling out of favor, it should be noted). According to the brand, Brown selected every barrel for this brand, but he passed away in 1969 and the barrels he had chosen were gone by 1972.
Today, President’s Choice is aged from seven to nine years and bottled between 110 and 125 proof. That means it’s not a barrel-proof whiskey; instead, it’s bottled at specific proof points selected by assistant master distiller Caleb Trigo and master taster Melissa Rift. “Every barrel selected for President’s Choice tells a story,” said Trigo in a statement. “These are the barrels that showcase an extraordinary depth of character. Whether it’s the bourbon or our new rye, each bottle represents the pinnacle of Old Forester’s craftsmanship.”
This marks the first time that a rye whiskey is part of the President’s Choice line, although the distillery does have a single barrel rye in its portfolio that is bottled unfiltered and at barrel strength. Old Forester introduced rye whiskey to its portfolio in 2019, made with a mashbill that is heavy on the barley and light on the corn: 65 percent rye, 20 percent malted barley, and 15 percent corn. That whiskey is obviously not a single-barrel expression and is bottled at a sturdy 100 proof.
While President’s Choice will now be available nationally (SRP $225), it’s still a limited release, so bottles may be hard to find depending on where you live. Starting at 10 a.m. EST on Saturday, June 14, a small number of bottles will be available to purchase in person at the Whiskey Row distillery if you happen to be in Louisville, or you can visit the distillery’s web store that day (shipping is limited to a few states). That might be your best bet to get a bottle at its suggested retail price, because secondary websites currently have past releases listed at about $4,000. Happy hunting.
Authors
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Jonah Flicker