A reported Old Forester tasting anecdote, not a controlled blind trial, universal dilution direction, or demonstrated threshold.
Rothbaum recounts a proof-setting exercise in which samples were tasted as proof was lowered incrementally with small additions of water.
In an Old Forester proof-setting tasting, very small additions of water changed the bourbon enough that it tasted different at successive proof points.
Displayed p. 51 / complete PDF sheets 129
Whiskey 101 — Proofing Down and Bottling
Whole-copy audit: complete 1,664-sheet PDF, sheets 129. Retained 498-sheet partial locator: 128. Verified denotes source fidelity, not independent factual confirmation. A reported Old Forester tasting anecdote, not a controlled blind trial, universal dilution direction, or demonstrated threshold.
Evidence
In an Old Forester proof-setting tasting, very small additions of water changed the bourbon enough that it tasted different at successive proof points.
Location and context
Whiskey 101 — Proofing Down and Bottling. Displayed p. 51; complete supplied PDF sheets 129. Earlier partial-copy sheets 128 remain archival locators only.
Critical assessment
A reported Old Forester tasting anecdote, not a controlled blind trial, universal dilution direction, or demonstrated threshold.
Verification boundary
The passage has been read in context during the complete supplied-copy review. Source fidelity is verified; factual corroboration and proposed Academy application remain distinct. Existing Source, Literature Note, citation and claim relations are preserved. No public course placement was changed.