Old Forester Releases 117 Series Triple Char, Its First Main Street-Distilled Expression

This  limited 115-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon was aged in barrels charred three times longer than Old Forester’s standard specification.

Old Forester tells BourbonBlog.com it has released The 117 Series: Triple Char Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, marking the first Old Forester expression made entirely from whiskey distilled at the brand’s Main Street distillery in downtown Louisville.

Released July 24, 2026, Triple Char is bottled at 115 proof, or 57.5% ABV, and carries a suggested retail price of $64.99 per 375 mL bottle. The limited release is available at the Old Forester Distillery and select Kentucky retailers.

Old Forester 117 Series Triple Char Quick Facts

A Milestone for Old Forester’s Main Street Distillery

Old Forester returned to Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row and opened its Main Street distillery in 2018. The location occupies the same building the brand called home from 1882 through 1919.

Since reopening, the location has operated as both a visitor experience and a working distillery. Triple Char now becomes the first released Old Forester expression produced entirely with whiskey distilled at the downtown Louisville facility.

That gives this bottle added historical importance beyond its experimental barrel treatment. It represents the arrival of whiskey that began its life at Old Forester’s restored Main Street home.

What Does “Triple Char” Mean?

Despite the name, Old Forester does not describe this as a bourbon placed into barrels that were separately charred three times.

Instead, the company says the barrels used for Triple Char were charred three times longer than the standard Old Forester cooperage specification. Old Forester has not disclosed the precise charring duration or a numerical char level.

The extended charring process was intended to increase the interaction between the bourbon and the oak, creating additional spice, oak character and complexity.

“The extended barrel char allows us to showcase that spirit in a completely new way.”

Old Forester Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo

According to Trigo, the resulting bourbon displays intense spice, richness and a deeper oak profile while demonstrating how Old Forester continues to experiment within its traditional whiskey-making process.

Official Old Forester Triple Char Tasting Notes

Nose: Pecan praline, crisp apple and stone fruit, followed by cardamom, honeysuckle and sweet leather.

Taste: Buttery baked apple cobbler with cinnamon, pepper and developing notes of oak char.

Finish: Rich oak, soft leather and subtle sweet licorice.

The Old Forester 117 Series

Old Forester introduced The 117 Series in 2021 as a platform for experimentation involving barrel selection, maturation environments, blending and production techniques.

The name pays homage to Old Forester’s home at 117 Main Street along Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row. Previous releases have explored unusually high angel’s share barrels, specific warehouses, secondary maturation and stories from the brand’s production history.

Recent expressions have included 1910 Extra Extra Old, Whiskey Row Fire and High Angels’ Share. Triple Char adds another production-driven experiment to the series while commemorating the maturation of Old Forester whiskey distilled entirely at the restored Main Street facility.

For collectors of The 117 Series, Triple Char may carry additional significance as both an experimental bourbon and a marker of a new era for Old Forester’s downtown Louisville distillery.