Old Forester Cask Strength Nicholas Barrel Reserve #8 (131.1 Proof)

If anyone asks who makes my favorite Bourbon, the answer is always the same: Old Forester. I just love those guys. The issue over the last few years has been that they have not been releasing private barrels. To tell you the truth, even their regular bottlings have become really hard to find. Their Birthday Bourbon has legitimately become even harder to find then Pappy and can be just as expensive too.

They pick just 12 barrels from their rick houses of what they consider their very best expressions & label it “Birthday”. Four years ago I was lucky enough to snag the 13th barrel (the first barrel to not make the cut) and label it Nicholas Barrel Reserve. To this day it’s the most requested bottle throughout the Bourbon Buyers Club.

Every other pick they offer is bottled at about 90 proof. The Birthday & all of my picks are bottled at cask strength. This is one rare bottle for sure. Most collectors really want Cask Strength but I have been told by some buyers that cask strength can be too strong for them. I suggest you rectify it a bit with water or an ice cube to bring down the proof.