Old Forester King Ranch is only distributed in Texas. While it can not be found anywhere else, it sits on shelves at MSRP in most stores in Texas, and therefore has almost no resale value. It is meant to commemorate two treasured, longtime brands: Old Forester and King Ranch. King Ranch is the largest ranch in the United States and dates back to 1853. Old Forester was founded in 1870, just 17 years later.
For this expression, both mesquite wood and mesquite filtration were used. This produced flavor notes that Texans are supposedly familiar with and enjoy. Unfortunately, as I am not a native Texan myself with easy access to this expression, I was gifted this bottle on a trip to Dallas while hanging out with a good bourbon buddy. Today, let's deep dive into this Texas special.
Whiskey: Old Forester King Ranch
Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Barrel: Unknown
Proof: 105
Age: 4+ Years
MSRP: $89.99 (2024)
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Strong mesquite (smokey, earthy, hearty), sweet oak, cherry, light caramel, light spice
Palate: Mesquite, earthy oak, spice, light caramel
Finish: Medium length, dry oak, allspice, mesquite lingers
Overall: This bottle will teach you how mesquite tastes. It is a mixture of a smokey, earthy, and hearty flavor. It is common in seasoning meats and vegetables. For those completely unfamiliar, I would recommend thinking about a good brisket and its seasoning. On whiskey, the flavors work. When compared to Old Forester 1920, King Ranch tastes like a more refined, slightly more tamed older brother. It is nearly as good, and those without a bottle should not feel like they are truly missing anything. If you ever see this in Texas, I don't think you'll be disappointed with picking it up. Unfortunately, the MSRP is a tad steep. There is a reason why it sits on shelves in Texas. I would not hoard these, and will not replenish my bottle once it's gone. Though, for now, I'm glad I've gotten to enjoy this one.
Rating: 7.3
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