🥃 Old Forester 86 Proof
The flagship Old Forester: a Kentucky straight bourbon at 43% ABV (86 proof), with no age statement.
Old Forester 86 Proof is the core expression of the Old Forester brand, and the one most people start with. It is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 43% ABV, which is 86 American proof. The label carries no age statement. According to the brand's history, it has been bottled at this strength since 1959.
According to Difford's Guide, the mash bill is 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley. The same recipe is probably behind part of the Woodford Reserve whiskey. The bourbon matures in new charred oak barrels, as US law requires. It is distilled at the Old Forester Distilling Co. in Louisville, Kentucky.
Why this matters to you. 86 Proof is the lightest version in the range. Old Forester 100 Proof has the same mash bill but 50% ABV, and Old Forester 1870 Original Batch is a blend of barrels from three warehouses. When comparing, check the proof number on the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 43% ABV (86 proof) |
|---|---|
| Raw material | corn 72%, rye 18%, malted barley 10% |
| Cask type | new charred oak barrels |
| Minimum maturation | no age statement; straight bourbon from 2 years |
| Year founded | brand 1870; 86 proof since 1959 |
| EU category | 2 - whisky/whiskey, for the EU market |
| Legal basis | 27 CFR § 5.143 (USA): bourbon - at least 51% corn, new charred oak barrels; straight - at least 2 years |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Old Forester 86 Proof → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Barrel toasting
- Made from
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Old Forester, 🥃 Bourbon whiskey, 🥃 Straight bourbon whiskey
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 🥃 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style, 🥃 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style, 🥃 Old Forester Rye, 🥃 Old Forester Rye
Frequently asked questions
Does 86 Proof mean 86% alcohol?
No. Proof is an American measure: 86 proof equals 43% ABV.
How long is Old Forester 86 Proof aged?
No age is stated on the label. As a straight bourbon it must mature for at least 2 years in new charred oak barrels.
How does 86 Proof differ from 100 Proof?
Mainly in strength: 43% against 50% ABV. The mash bill is the same.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 Rye and corn in whisky — Grain in the name of American whiskey: bourbon is at least 51% corn, rye at least 51% rye, corn whiskey at least 80% corn.
- 🍷 Barrel toasting — Heating the inside of a barrel over fire; the degree of toast shapes the wine's taste.
- 🥃 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style — The third version of the Whiskey Row series: a bourbon in the style of the Prohibition era, 57.5% ABV (115 proof).
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Old Forester 100 Proof · 🥃 Old Forester 1897 Bottled in Bond · 🥃 Old Forester 1870 Original Batch · 🥃 Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style · 🥃 Old Forester Rye · 🥃 Jim Beam Devil's Cut
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Old Forester (official): Old Forester 86 Proof — created 1870; distilled by Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky
- Difford's Guide: Old Forester Kentucky Straight Bourbon (43 %, 86° proof; no age statement; 72 % corn, 18 % rye, 10 % malted barley; Brown-Forman)
- Old Forester: Legacy Timeline (1870 George Garvin Brown; 1897 100 proof; 1920 Prohibition permit; 1959 86 proof)
- 27 CFR § 5.143 Standards of identity for whisky (bourbon/rye: min. 51 % corn/rye, new charred oak containers; straight: min. 2 years), text via Cornell LII
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)