Old Forester Statesman Bourbon 750ML

Old Forester Statesman Bourbon 750ML is a 95-proof (47.5% ABV) Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey drawn from hand-selected barrels aged on the warmest warehouse floors. This expression earned a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and an 88-point rating from Whisky Advocate, placing it among the more acclaimed bottlings in the Old Forester lineup.

Quick Facts: ABV: 47.5% (95 Proof)  |  Origin: Louisville, Kentucky, USA  |  NAS (No Age Statement)  |  Distillery: Old Forester Distillery (Brown-Forman)

Production & Heritage

Old Forester holds the distinction of being America's first bottled bourbon, established in 1870 by George Garvin Brown and continuously produced through Prohibition under a medicinal whiskey permit. The brand remains under Brown-Forman ownership, distilled at the Old Forester Distillery on Louisville's historic Whiskey Row. Statesman uses the distillery's traditional mashbill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, but what separates it from the core range is its barrel selection — each barrel is pulled from the warmer upper floors of the aging warehouses, where greater temperature swings drive deeper interaction between spirit and charred oak. The result is what many reviewers describe as the sweetest and fruitiest expression in the Old Forester family, with less dominant oakiness than its stablemates.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Oak spice leads, followed by raw vanilla, clove, and light caramel. Beneath those top notes, earthy undercurrents of cigar wrapper and dark, fertile soil add complexity.

Taste: The entry is rich with caramel sweetness and honeyed grain, building into cinnamon bark and leather at mid-palate. Gentle pepper emerges alongside cedar humidor, tea leaf, and root beer spice, while berry fruit and vanilla weave through the broader profile. The sweetness stays well-tempered throughout, never cloying.

Finish: Warm and lingering, with oak spice carrying the close and a soft sweetness that balances the residual heat. The overall impression is generous and rounded, with spice and fruit in equal measure.

How to Drink Statesman

At 95 proof, Statesman holds its own neat or with a single large ice cube, which opens up its honeyed fruit character without drowning the oak spice. A few drops of water can further coax out the berry and vanilla notes. It also works exceptionally well in cocktails:

• Old Fashioned — The pronounced caramel and cinnamon make it a natural backbone, standing up to bitters and a sugar cube without losing character.
• Boulevardier — Statesman's berry fruit and earthy depth complement sweet vermouth and Campari, adding warmth to the bitter-sweet balance.
• Whiskey Sour — The honeyed sweetness and vanilla carry through citrus and egg white, producing a richer, more textured sour than lower-proof bourbons deliver.

Best For

• Bourbon enthusiasts exploring warm-floor barrel selections and their effect on flavor
• Gifting to someone who appreciates higher-proof Kentucky bourbon with a smooth profile
• Building a side-by-side tasting of Old Forester expressions to compare barrel selection impact
• Hosting a cocktail evening where a versatile, 95-proof bourbon anchors the menu

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Statesman taste like? Statesman leads with caramel sweetness and honeyed grain, layered with cinnamon bark, berry fruit, and gentle pepper, finishing warm with balanced oak spice. It is widely regarded as the sweetest and fruitiest bourbon in the Old Forester range.

How does Statesman compare to I.W. Harper 15 Year? Reviewers have placed Statesman in a similar flavor category to I.W. Harper 15 Year, noting both share a sweet, fruity bourbon profile. However, Statesman carries no age statement and is bottled at a higher 95 proof compared to I.W. Harper 15 Year's 86 proof, giving it more intensity and heat on the palate.

Is Statesman good for sipping neat? Yes — at 47.5% ABV, Statesman has enough proof to deliver full flavor neat without being punishing, and its prominent sweetness and fruit make it approachable for most experienced bourbon drinkers.

Where is Statesman made? Statesman is distilled at the Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row in Louisville, Kentucky, owned and operated by Brown-Forman. Louisville sits in the heart of Kentucky's bourbon-producing region.

What foods pair well with Statesman? Smoked brisket complements the oak spice and leather notes. Pecan pie mirrors the caramel and vanilla sweetness. Dark chocolate with sea salt highlights the berry fruit. Sharp aged cheddar plays against the honeyed grain. Cinnamon-spiced apple desserts echo the baking spice in the mid-palate.

What sizes does Statesman come in? Old Forester Statesman is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Statesman worth the price? Statesman positions as a premium expression within the Old Forester lineup, sitting above the core 86-proof bottling but below limited releases like the Birthday Bourbon. Its Double Gold Medal at SFWSC and warm-floor barrel selection place it in strong company at its price tier, offering genuine production distinction rather than a simple proof bump.

Why Statesman?

The defining characteristic here is barrel placement. By pulling exclusively from the hotter upper floors of the warehouse, Old Forester amplifies the natural sweetness and fruit of its 72/18/10 mashbill while minimizing heavy oak tannins — a deliberate inversion of what many high-proof bourbons emphasize. That selection process earned Statesman a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and an 88-point score from Whisky Advocate, confirming its quality in competitive blind evaluation. For drinkers who find standard Old Forester too mild and the barrel-strength offerings too intense, Statesman occupies a rewarding middle ground at 95 proof. It is one of the clearest examples in the current market of how warehouse position alone can reshape a bourbon's personality.