The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA)<\/strong> has officially unveiled one of its most powerful and anticipated releases of 2021: the Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength<\/strong> pick fittingly titled \u201cI\u2019m Your Barrel Proof!\u201d<\/strong> \u2014 a collaboration with Ace Liquor Center<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This release marked the fifth club pick of the year<\/strong> and followed an already impressive lineup that included selections from New Riff, Barrell Bourbon, SAOS, and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. Even among that strong field, this Old Forester barrel stood out immediately for its sheer intensity and depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOld Forester SB Barrel Strength \u2018I\u2019m Your Barrel Proof!\u2019 \u2014 Ace Liquor Center\/BCA Joint Pick. Gary went on to call this release one of his personal favorites of the year, awarding it his famously tongue-in-cheek \u201cHow much is the rent for this gorgeous apartment?\u201d<\/strong> rating \u2014 high praise within BCA circles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Old Forester Barrel Strength single barrels are already known for delivering unfiltered, undiluted bourbon straight from the barrel<\/strong>, but this selection pushed the envelope even by those standards. At nearly 134 proof<\/strong>, the whiskey managed to retain balance, richness, and approachability \u2014 a combination that\u2019s increasingly rare at this proof level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pick also highlighted the importance of warehouse and floor placement<\/strong>, with Warehouse I \/ Floor 8 historically producing bourbons with deeper oak influence, concentrated sugars, and layered dessert notes \u2014 all of which showed clearly in this barrel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Founded in 1870<\/strong>, Old Forester<\/strong> is widely recognized as America\u2019s first continuously sold bourbon brand<\/strong>, surviving Prohibition by producing medicinal whiskey. Today, it operates under Brown-Forman<\/strong>, one of the most respected names in American spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Old Forester is unique among Kentucky distilleries for distilling, aging, and bottling all of its bourbon in downtown Louisville<\/strong>, maintaining full control over every step of production. The brand is also known for its transparency, frequently releasing detailed barrel, warehouse, and floor information \u2014 a major reason its single barrel program is so highly regarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Much of the modern acclaim surrounding Old Forester\u2019s barrel program is credited to Master Taster Jackie Zykan<\/strong>, whose influence helped elevate the brand\u2019s barrel strength and single barrel offerings into must-buy territory for enthusiasts nationwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m Your Barrel Proof!\u201d represented the fifth of six<\/strong> planned BCA selections for 2021, with the final pick teased for a September announcement. At the time of release, anticipation was already high \u2014 but few expected this Old Forester barrel to become one of the year\u2019s most talked-about club selections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Arkansas bourbon fans, this bottle wasn\u2019t just another pick \u2014 it was a benchmark release<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ace Liquor Center & Bourbon Club of Arkansas Joint Selection PUBLISH DATE: June 2021 The Bourbon Club of Arkansas (BCA) has officially unveiled one of its most powerful and anticipated […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_gspb_post_css":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"yes","_lmt_disable":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[13],"class_list":["post-1763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ace-liquor","tag-bca"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Old](\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Gary-Penna-June-1-2021-Old-Forester-Sample-768x1024.jpg\")
Barrel Details at a Glance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n\n\n\nFirst Tasting Notes (Source: Gary Penna \u2013 June 16, 2021)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Color: Deep Mahogany.
Nose: A toasted marshmallow and caramel nose bomb\u2026 charred oak, maple syrup, hints of banana, and dark cherry.
Palate: A caramel mouth punch with strong vanilla and maple syrup\u2026 incredibly rich and creamy. The proof fades as the bourbon opens.
Finish: Lingering buttery dark cherry pastry with caramelized sugar, marshmallow, and graham cracker notes.\u201d<\/em>
\u2014 Gary Penna<\/strong>, Bourbon Club of Arkansas<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n![\"Old](\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Old-Forester-June-6-2021-2-1024x1024.jpg\")
![\"Old](\"https:\/\/arkansasliquor.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Old-Forester-June-6-2021-1024x1024.jpg\")
\n\n\n\nWhy This Barrel Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nAbout Old Forester Distillery<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nLooking Ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n