Review: Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon and Rye 2025

I can count on one finger the number of President’s Choice expressions I’ve tasted from Old Forester, and there’s good reason for that: This whiskey has never been available at retail, but rather only from Old Forester directly. (Namely at the distillery.)

For the first time ever that is changing, as President’s Choice — both the Bourbon and Rye expressions — are coming to retail channels, if in very limited quantities.

Here’s a rundown on what President’s Choice actually is:

Inspired by private single barrels offered in 1964 by former Old Forester president George Garvin Brown II, this modern offering is specifically selected from matured barrels with exquisite quality and distinct characteristics.

“President’s Choice has always been an incredibly rare and cherished bottle, and most consumers have never seen it, let alone tasted the whisky,” Master Taster Melissa Rift said. “We are honored to bring it to a wider audience.”

“Every barrel selected for President’s Choice tells a story,” Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo said. “These are the barrels that showcase an extraordinary depth of character. Whether it’s the bourbon or our new rye, each bottle represents the pinnacle of Old Forester’s craftsmanship.”

Each President’s Choice barrel is aged between 7 – 9 years, and bottled at proof points selected by Caleb and Melissa highlighting their unique flavor profile, traditionally ranging from 110 to 125 proof. Every bottle reflects the highest standards of selection, with only the finest barrels deemed worthy of carrying the President’s Choice name. President’s Choice Bourbon and President’s Choice Rye each have a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $225.

President’s Choice whiskeys are single barrel offerings that are commonly sold with a simple three-digit number. Alas, I don’t know what barrel number our samples were drawn from — though I do have their proof.

Thoughts follow.

Old Forester President’s Choice Bourbon 2025 Review

Surprisingly racy, even for Old Forester. The nose showcases baked apples, toasty oak, and a hint of camphor adding a perfumed astringency to the aroma. This sharpness only grows stronger with time in glass, though it helps to balance a significant barrel influence that builds to a peppery head with time in glass. The palate exudes a sharper, slightly tannic character moving from charred wood into more exotic notes of anise, prune, and cloves. A dusting of nutmeg floats over the finish. I really liked this with a splash of water, which helps coax out notes of brown butter and cinnamon. 120.5 proof. A- / $225 [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]

Old Forester President’s Choice Rye 2025 Review

Also bold and on point for rye, with loads of grassy aromatics alongside black pepper, ample barrel char, and a touch of anise. The palate is perhaps a bit less complex than the bourbon, the herbal-grassy character doing the heavy lifting. Quite spicy and minty, those anise notes return with a bit of air time. Water coaxes out some much-needed fruit in the form of applesauce and canned pears, but the layers of spice and green herbs on the finish are impossible to escape — wandering to notes of menthol and tobacco late in the game. 117.1 proof. B+ / $225

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