During the late 19th century, an overwhelming number of distilleries throughout the United States were still not aging their whiskey. As a result, some retailers would add juices and syrups to sweeten the whiskey, while others would add acid and tobacco to give their whiskey its signature amber hue.

In 1870, George Garvin Brown — a young pharmaceuticals salesman from Kentucky — saw the need for a consistently high-quality whiskey that would remain unadulterated after distillation. After saving $5,500, Brown and his brother opened the doors to J.T.S. Brown & Bro. Distillery and began distilling bourbon. Unlike other distilleries at the time, Brown aged his bourbon, which was named Old Forester, in oak casks and bottled it in a sealed glass bottle to ensure authenticity and quality. Since its introduction in 1870, Old Forester has been on the market continuously, even during Prohibition, when it continued to be sold for medicinal purposes. It is the only bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during and after Prohibition.

The Old Forester Signature 100 Proof Bourbon is a tribute to founder George Gavin Brown, carrying his signature on the label — he would sign all the bottles himself in the olden days. It's made from a mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley and bottled at 100 proof. It's a well-balanced affair with plenty of caramel, cherry, and oaky spice, along with some coffee and chocolate on the nose. The rich palate adds to that some fruity notes, nuts, maple syrup, and caramel. Finishes spicy and complex with pepper, cloves, nutmeg, and oak.