Master Taster Jackie Zykan Knows How to Drink Whiskey

“Professional bartenders know that what makes a balanced cocktail is all elements being present, not covering up the flavor of the base spirit,” says Jackie Zykan, Old Forester master taster.

“For this reason, 100 proof products have grown in popularity within the cocktail scene because they can stand up to a multitude of additional ingredients.”

Old Forester, now in its 150th year, is evolving its highly successful Single Barrel program to offer a 100 proof and unfiltered* barrel strength option for customers who purchase full barrels from the distillery.

Jackie Zykan, Old Forester Master Taster

“Since our founding, we’ve always listened to our customers and looked for ways to innovate to meet their tastes,” explains Zykan. “Proof and filtration are both significant factors in the final flavor and complexity of a whiskey, and we wanted to be able to share how special some of these barrels are when the product inside is tasted in raw form. After a few years of managing the program, it became evident that perhaps we should be open to other proof offerings to achieve that goal. Not every barrel will taste it’s best at the exact same proof as its neighbor, and now we can put our best selves forward on the shelf.”

Barrels that produce 100 proof bourbon will yield approximately 200 bottles at a suggested retail price of $49.99. Depending on the proof, Barrel Strength bottles will yield approximately 160 bottles at a suggested retail price of $79.99. With the change, Old Forester’s 90 Proof Single Barrel offering will be eliminated.

Jackie Zykan, Old Forester Master Taster

“The program is still under allocation, so if interested in purchasing a barrel for an account, speak with your distributor, and they will be able to facilitate the selection,” says Zykan. “We can accommodate selections onsite at the distillery, or we can also send a sample to you. Everybody has unique flavor preferences, so we keep a diverse selection of barrels in our inventory. No matter what application one could need the liquid for, we have a flavor profile to meet your needs.”

Currently, there are no plans to move Old Forester’s Single Barrel program away from private “By the Barrel” purchases. Customers who are interested in purchasing a Single Barrel product can purchase a bottle from Old Forster Distilling Co. or from retailers who have hand-selected their own private barrels.

*All-natural barrel char sediment has been removed via dump room screening. This bourbon may naturally haze or cloud in extremes temperature. This is normal for an unfiltered bourbon whiskey.