Old Forester 117 Extra Extra Old (Batch 2) Review

Shelf Review

Designed to give you all the quick hit information you need when you’re standing in front of your local liquor store’s whisky shelf.

If you’ve ever wondered what an extra two years in wood would do to Old Forester’s 1910 whisky then you’re in luck – Old Forester has recently released a second batch of 117 Extra, Extra Old to help shed some light. And while that might be a seriously niche question to ask – clearly someone at Old Forester also wanted to explore what a secondary aging period would look like; eventually leading Old Forester to take normal 1910 and leaving it in its secondary barrel for an extra 24 months. It still clocks in at 93 proof but is bottled as a 375ml (like all 117 releases) and has an MSRP of $59.99. It’s a limited release, where most bottles will be found directly at Old Forester’s Louisville Main St. location. So, you might be wondering – is it worth making the trip to grab a bottle? Let’s dive in and find out.

Age: Non-age stated but secondary aged for an additional 24 months

ABV: 46.5%

Cask: New American Oak – then aged for another 24 months in heavily charred barrels

MSRP: $59 (for 375ml)

Distillery Name: Old Forester Distillery

Review Date: 10/11/25

 

 Nose: Strong oak, caramel corn, roasted almonds, honey butter, clove and rich, dark chocolate. It’s complex and warming – like a fantastic spiced latte.

Palate: More heavy oak that can quickly turn towards astringent. Lots of Cracker Jacks, banana, and toasted marshmallow. It leans on the thinner side, with the oak really taking center stage throughout.

Finish: Short finish featuring lots of barrel char, rye spice, and a dusting of cocoa powder.  

Score: 85

Would I buy again? If you’ve never determined how much oak you like in your whisky – then Old Forester’s Extra, Extra Old is a great way to find out. It features an almost inescapable amount of oak, which ultimately leaned a bit too bitter and astringent on the palate for me. While I am glad, I have this in the collection, I’m also happy it’s only a 375ml. I won’t be rushing out to grab another bottle – but I’m happy Old Forester continues to experiment and see how far they can push their core Whisky Row Series. If you’re a fan of oak with a side of whisky – this is the bottle you want.

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