Earlier this year, Old Forester and Master Taster Jackie Zykan announced the brand new 117 Series, a line of distillery-only releases intended to give visitors a look behind the scenes of their bourbon.
“It’s about those little discoveries that can only be made when you have your hands in whiskey all day long, and that’s what I want to share with people… I know the things I’m exposed to on a daily basis are things that people might be interested in that they might otherwise never have the option to experience,” Zkyan told us when the series launched.
Zkyan introduced the 117 Series in March with “High Angels’ Share,” using barrels that had experienced too much evaporation to be part of the single barrel program. Now, she’s following it up with “Warehouse K Barrels,” using bourbon barrels pulled from one of the distillery’s 68-year-old heat-cycled warehouses.
“Warehouse K has gained a cult following among bourbon connoisseurs,” said Master Taster Jackie Zykan in a news release. “This blend is a representation across multiple floors and locations within this warehouse, giving a more holistic example of the profile its barrels yield.”
“Each of our warehouses provides its own characteristic maturation environment, which allows us dimension and diversity in our blends. This small batch of barrels has bbeen chosen exclusively from heat cycled warehouse K in Shively, KY and represents barrels matured on each floor, excluding K-4,” reads the label.
On the nose, Zkyan tells us to expect “creamy chocolate, caramel, and brown sugar, with a hint of golden raisin and a foreshadowing of the pepper the finish will unveil.” On the palate, we’ll experience “full-bodied and rich viscosity, peripheral spice, and a touch of black cherry alongside bitter molasses,” with a finish of “robust yet balanced spice.”
You may have seen Warehouse K barrels before in the distillery’s single barrel selection program, but this particular blend will be proofed to 110 and bottled in 375ml bottles. Old Forester The 117 Series “Warehouse K Barrels” is available now at the distillery for a suggested retail price of around $50.
