Old Forester President's Choice 2026 vs. 2025: A Head-to-Head Bourbon Comparison

Welcome back to the Bourbon, Brass & Beyond blog, where we take the deep dives, detailed tasting notes, and lively discussions from our podcast episodes and expand on them right here on the page. If you are as obsessed with Brown-Forman and high-end limited releases as we are, you know that few bottles generate as much excitement in the collector community as the Old Forester President's Choice series. These single-barrel selections are notoriously difficult to secure, highly sought after, and carry a reputation for delivering some of the absolute best liquid to ever come out of Louisville, Kentucky.

Recently on the show, we popped open the brand-new 2026 release—Barrel 203—to see how it stands on its own merits as a fresh crack. But we did not stop there. We also brought out the 2025 release to conduct a side-by-side, head-to-head comparison. How does the newest iteration measure up against last year's reigning champion? Does the fresh crack live up to the immense hype surrounding the President's Choice moniker? In this post, we are breaking down the stats, analyzing the aromatics, exploring the evolving palate, and giving you our unfiltered verdict. For the complete auditory experience complete with real-time reactions, be sure to check out our related podcast episode, Review of 2026 Old Forester President's Choice; Ep. 83.

Introduction to Old Forester President's Choice

Before we dive straight into the glass, it is important to contextualize what the Old Forester President's Choice program means to the brand and to bourbon enthusiasts. Unlike standard small-batch offerings or even regular single-barrel picks, the President's Choice series represents a curated tier of single barrels hand-selected and bottled at cask strength. These releases are typically made available through limited online drops or directly at the Old Forester Distillery on Whiskey Row, making them instant targets for secondary market speculators and serious drinkers alike.

The allure of President's Choice lies in its unpredictability and its pedigree. Because every barrel is a single entity, no two years—and no two barrels within the same year—are ever completely identical. However, there is a distinct house style that Old Forester fans look for: rich baking spices, heavy charred oak, luxurious dark fruit notes, and that signature Brown-Forman banana and caramel profile amplified to the extreme. When you purchase a bottle bearing the President's Choice label, you are expecting an elite-tier whiskey experience that justifies the hunt and the price tag.

Entering the 2026 release cycle, expectations were sky-high. Last year's 2025 bottle had set an extraordinarily high bar with its incredible depth, remarkable balance, and a lingering, luxurious finish that left us wanting more weeks after the bottle was opened. When we secured Barrel 203 for the 2026 lineup, we knew we had a monumental task ahead of us: review the fresh crack objectively while measuring it directly against a predecessor that had essentially claimed the crown in our minds.

Decoding the 2026 Release: Barrel 203 Stats and Details

Every great bourbon review begins with the numbers, and the 2026 release brings some interesting specifications to the table. For this year's tasting session, we focused specifically on Barrel 203. Age is always a fascinating metric when evaluating Brown-Forman products because their distillate handles wood influence so aggressively, often drinking much older than its chronological age.

Barrel 203 was aged for exactly 92 months, putting it just shy of the eight-year mark. In the world of modern bourbon, 92 months in the heavily charred barrels utilized by Old Forester is more than enough time to extract a massive amount of color, tannin, and flavor compounds. When poured into the glass, the liquid displays a deep, rich mahogany hue that immediately signals heavy interaction with the oak.

In terms of proof, Barrel 203 comes in at 61.8% ABV, which translates to a robust 123.6 proof. This is right in the sweet spot for cask-strength Old Forester—high enough to pack a serious punch and carry concentrated flavor compounds, but theoretically low enough to allow the complex aromatic notes to shine through without being entirely obliterated by ethanol. As we examined the bottle details prior to our tasting, we noted that while multiple barrel variations frequently populate these limited online drops, Barrel 203 presented itself as a formidable heavyweight purely based on its proof and age statement.

First Impressions: The Phenomenal Nose of the 2026 Edition

If there is one aspect of Barrel 203 that deserves immediate and unreserved praise, it is the aromatic experience right out of the bottle. Sometimes, a fresh crack can be tight, closed off, and dominated by an aggressive wave of ethanol that requires the whiskey to breathe for an hour before yielding any secrets. Barrel 203, however, decided to make a statement from the very first second.

As soon as the cork was pulled, the room filled with an intoxicating blend of rich brown sugar and heavy dark fruits. The immediate aromatic profile was nothing short of stunning. We noted distinct waves of ripe blackberry and a prominent blueberry note that is rarely found in such clarity within standard bourbon profiles. Alongside the dark fruit, there was a comforting layer of sweet confectioner’s sugar, old leather, and rich toasted oak.

Of course, being a fresh crack clocking in at 123.6 proof, there was inevitably a touch of ethanol heat dancing at the very edges of the glass. However, this alcohol presence never felt harsh or out of balance; rather, it acted as a lift, carrying those decadent dessert-like aromas straight up and out of the rim. We found ourselves leaning back and simply enjoying the bouquet for several minutes before taking our first sip. It was clear right away that the nose on this 2026 release was world-class, prompting us to utter the exact phrase during our recording: "Phenomenal nose now."

Palate and Evolution: Tasting the New Barrel with Air

Moving from the magnificent nose to the actual palate is always the moment of truth in any bourbon review. The first sip of Barrel 203 introduces itself with a bold, fruit-forward entry that mirrors the aromatic promises made on the nose. Spices dance across the tongue initially—clove, cinnamon, and a slight tingle of black pepper—before rapidly transitioning into a much deeper, richer profile.

As the liquid rolls across the mid-palate, the flavor profile shifts decisively toward dark, jammy grape and concentrated blueberry characteristics. There is an unmistakable fruit syrup quality to the sweetness, backed up by traditional notes of charred oak, tobacco leaf, and roasted peanuts. The mouthfeel is decently oily, coating the glass and the palate with a pleasant weight.

However, as we evaluated the finish, we noticed a few quirks that separated this fresh crack from elite pours. The finish on Barrel 203 presented itself as slightly hotter, thinner, and shorter than some of the other exceptional pours we had enjoyed earlier that evening. Furthermore, a noticeable bitterness crept in on the back end after the initial swallow. To be entirely fair, this bitterness was not entirely unpleasant or chemically flawed—it did not ruin the experience—but it was definitely less desirable when compared to the flawless, seamless transitions we expect from a top-tier President's Choice release.

Fortunately, bourbon is a living, breathing liquid that reacts dynamically to oxygen. On the second sip, the character of the pour changed dramatically. The whiskey seemed noticeably sweeter, and the various flavor layers integrated much more harmoniously. The initial sharp edges softened, suggesting that this bottle is going to open up beautifully and shed much of that initial fresh-crack bitterness over the coming weeks as it spends more time breathing with some headspace in the bottle.

The Head-to-Head: 2026 Versus the 2025 Crown Holder

The true climax of our evaluation came when we poured a control sample of the 2025 Old Forester President's Choice release and placed it side-by-side with the new 2026 Barrel 203. This is where objective analysis meets the brutal reality of batch-to-batch variation in single-barrel programs.

The 2025 bottle has long held a legendary status in our rotation. When tasted directly against the fresh 2026 crack, the differences became immediately apparent. While the 2026 edition easily wins points for its explosive, fruit-forward nose—boasting that incredible blueberry and dark fruit punch—the 2025 release takes the lead once it hits the palate and finish.

The 2025 bottle simply offered a longer, more luxurious finish that completely avoided the minor bitter turn found on the back end of the 2026 fresh crack. Where Barrel 203 dipped slightly into a drying, slightly bitter oak tannin finish, the 2025 release maintained its lush, sweet profile all the way through to the very end of the sip. It possessed a rounder mouthfeel and a seamless integration of age, proof, and sweetness that made it feel utterly complete from the first drop to the last.

Does this mean the 2026 release is a disappointment? Absolutely not. It simply highlights the fascinating nature of single barrels. The 2026 bottle gives you an aromatic experience that is arguably superior and more exciting on the nose, but the 2025 bottle maintains the crown for overall execution and balance on the palate and finish.

Final Verdict: Does the Fresh Crack Live Up to the Hype?

So, where do we ultimately land on the 2026 Old Forester President's Choice Barrel 203? After thoroughly analyzing the stats, marveling at the phenomenal nose, navigating the palate evolution, and pitting it directly against last year's masterpiece, our verdict is clear.

Barrel 203 is an undeniably solid fresh crack. It delivers an aromatic profile that will make any bourbon lover swoon, featuring rich brown sugars and unique dark fruit characteristics like blackberry and blueberry that stand out even among elite Brown-Forman offerings. While the palate shows a bit of youthful heat, a slightly shorter finish, and a minor touch of back-end bitterness on day one, the dramatic improvement observed even by the second sip proves that this whiskey has incredible potential.

As this bottle sits on the bar and gets more air, we fully expect those minor rough edges to smooth out, making it an even more stellar pour. While it may not quite dethrone the 2025 release right out of the gate, it is a magnificent bottle to own, pour, and share with fellow enthusiasts who appreciate the art of single-barrel selection.

If you want to hear our live, unedited reactions, our full tasting notes, and a fun casual life update covering bourbon hunting and upcoming travel plans, make sure you listen to the complete discussion. Head over to our episode page right now and stream Review of 2026 Old Forester President's Choice; Ep. 83. Cheers, and until next time, keep great whiskey in your glass!