Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye Review | Fruity, Mature & Surprisingly Dry

Old Forester
117 Series
High Angels’ Share Rye
110 Proof
SRP: $64.99
Review

Please enjoy our Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye Review!

Background

Old Forester’s 117 Series is a collection of limited releases that highlights distinctive barrels and unique aspects of the brand’s whiskey-making process. The latest addition to the series, High Angels’ Share Rye, focuses on a small batch of rye whiskey barrels that experienced unusually high evaporation during maturation.

According to Old Forester, these barrels developed concentrated flavor profiles as a result of their maturation environment and elevated evaporative loss. The company notes that this phenomenon is often referred to as the angels taking more than their fair share. Batch No. 001 marks the inaugural release of High Angels’ Share Rye and was bottled at 110 proof in 375 mL bottles.

Details – Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye Review

• Distillery: Old Forester
• Expression: 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye
• Batch Number: 001
• Type: Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
• Proof: 110
• ABV: 55%
• Bottle Size: 375 mL
• Release Date: March 2026
• MSRP: $64.99

Tasting Notes – Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye Review

Let’s taste it:

🛏 Rested: 15 minutes in a Neat glass

👉🏻 Nose: Vanilla, sweet fruits like nectarines, dried apricots, touch of tart limes, caramel, relatively subtle rye spices; mild oak; alcohol vapor appropriate for the proof
👉🏻 Taste: Fairly dry; oak, rye spices, black licorice, tart limes
👉🏻 Finish: Dry wood, rye spices, dark caramel, black licorice, white pepper, mild char later on; fairly long and lingering with lasting white pepper spice and mild char

Sweet Fruit, Caramel & Mature Notes

This nose of Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye starts out full and mildly sweet, with a pleasant mix of fruits. It is rounded out by vanilla and caramel, with relatively subtle rye spices and mild oak. It is very pleasant, and I am enjoying nosing this whiskey quite a bit.

The palate is drier than I would have expected, with a nice mix of still fairly mild rye spices, black licorice and tart limes. The flavors continue into the dry finish, which has an added touch of dark caramel, as well as moderate white pepper spice and mild barrel char that appear later on and linger. Again, the rye spices remain fairly mild.

A Few Drops of Water

I generally do not do this, but Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye seemed to call for it: with a few drops of water, the palate became less dry, as well as a bit more full-bodied with a mild sweetness and much more noticeable sweet caramel. Likewise, caramel became more prominent in the nose, and the finish mellowed out a bit, as well.

A Surprisingly Complex Rye Whiskey – Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye Review

Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye is a complex and somewhat surprising whiskey. While some of the flavors remain similar throughout, the transition from a mildly sweet, fruity and rich nose to a much drier and spicier palate and finish was a bit of a surprise.

Nonetheless, the more I sip on this rye, the more I enjoy the complexity and fairly concentrated flavors, despite it being bottled at only 110 proof, rather than barrel proof, as I might have expected. In addition, there are many mature notes present, particularly in the palate and finish, which might add some credence to the rumors that this rye contains barrels up to 12 years old.

If you are looking for a rye that is a bit out of the ordinary, with many of the expected flavors but some surprises too, this is one that you will want to try. However, be prepared for the unique character that these more concentrated mature flavors bring.

Have you tried Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye? What did you think? Cheers!🥃

We hope you have enjoyed our Old Forester 117 Series High Angels’ Share Rye Review! Next, read these related articles: Old Forester 117 Series Bottled in Bond Rye – Press Release and Old Forester 117 Series Warehouse I Announced For Repeal Day.

Note: This sample was graciously provided by the Brand for my review. I appreciate it!

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