Dan and Bob open with the chaos of a holiday week bourbon drop in Ohio, then shift into a tasting session that puts several Old Forester 117 releases and a Kentucky Artisan Distillery bourbon under the microscope. They also talk through the broader frustration around OHLQ, bottle availability, and how state systems affect hunters, flippers, and everyday buyers.
#bourbon #whiskey #bourbonbrassandbeyond #bourbonandbeyond #bourbontasting #oldforester117 #oldforester #kentuckyartisandistillery #trackside #louisvilleky #jeffersonsbourbon #logstilldistillery #monksroadboilerhouse #podcast #bourbonpodcast #bourbonbrassandbeyond #bottleshare #bourbondrop #ohlq #wildturkey #cheesygoldfoil
In this episode:
Dan and Bob recap the morning scramble around the Wild Turkey Gold Foil drop and why the release felt inconsistent across stores
They debate OHLQ’s communication, availability tracking, and whether the system helps or hurts bourbon buyers in Ohio
They compare Ohio’s setup with other states like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and Wisconsin
They discuss how holiday timing and truck schedules can disrupt drop days and store-level inventory
Dan shares a bottle from Kentucky Artisan Distillery, a wheated Jefferson’s "Trackside" release at 107 proof, and both note it drinks spicier than expected for a wheated bourbon
They taste through multiple Old Forester 117 releases, including Triple Char, Extra Old, Extra Extra Old, and Prohibition Era, and compare their noses, proofs, and finishes
The Old Forester 117 Triple Char stands out for its banana bread nose, buttery texture, and rich sweetness
The Extra Extra Old gets praise for its butterscotch character and easy sipping profile
The Prohibition Era release is noted as the least distinctive of the bunch, but still solid at 130 proof
They wrap by saying the 117 series is a strong lineup overall, with no truly bad pours among the bottles they opened
Timestamps
00:00 — Holiday bourbon chaos and the OHLQ drop conversation
01:32 — Wild Turkey Gold Foil shows up in limited stores
03:27 — Why OHLQ’s availability tracking causes confusion
06:01 — Should Ohio use a lottery or controlled release instead?
09:03 — Liquor store inventory, drop-day uncertainty, and holiday timing
11:18 — Kentucky Artisan Distillery’s wheated Jefferson’s release
14:08 — First impressions: wheated bourbon that drinks like rye
18:03 — Comparing the fresh crack to an earlier sample
20:20 — Opening Old Forester 117 Triple Char
22:10 — Banana bread nose and the big jump in flavor
24:41 — Why the 117 series feels like an experimental lineup
27:16 — Bourbon and Beyond update and Derek Trucks access
29:02 — Comparing the Triple Char to Old Forester 1924
31:14 — Old Forester Extra Old versus Extra Extra Old
33:11 — Why Extra Extra Old tastes like butterscotch
36:02 — Old Forester Prohibition Era Still Proof
38:04 — The 130 proof surprise and finish
39:20 — Blending ideas and final ranking of the pours
40:37 — Final verdict on the 117 series and closing thoughts
Bourbon, Brass & Beyond - https://www.bourbonbrassandbeyond.com
See us at Bourbon & Beyond! Will have a Bottle Share event at Monk's Road Boilerhouse on Whiskey Row (right next to Old Forester) on Friday September 25th, from 1-3pm. Appetizers will be provided!
