Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2024
Old Forester · Old Forester Distillery
This annual release justifies its cult following with a finish that simply refuses to quit. The 12-year maturation delivers oak complexity without bitterness, and the higher proof ensures every flavor reaches the back palate intact. A bourbon built for contemplation.
Nose
Dense caramel and charred oak lead, followed by dark cherry and leather. A secondary wave of brown spices and toasted pecan emerges with time in the glass.
Palate
Full-bodied and viscous with butterscotch, dark cocoa, and ripe cherry layered over a core of seasoned oak. Tobacco leaf and a touch of vanilla custard provide depth without excess sweetness.
Finish
Exceptionally long, with charred oak and leather fading slowly into warm caramel and a dusting of brown spice that lingers for several minutes.
- Mash Bill
- 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
- Barrel Type
- New charred American oak
- Bottled in Bond
- No
- Single Barrel
- No
- Wheated
- No
Cocktail Suggestion
The Birthday Old Fashioned — 2 oz Old Forester Birthday Bourbon · 0.25 oz demerara syrup · 3 dashes Angostura bitters · 1 dash orange bitters · Stir with ice for 30 seconds, strain over a large cube, express an orange peel over the surface.
Food Pairing
The bourbon's charred oak and tobacco notes mirror the smoky bark of slow-cooked brisket, while its caramel sweetness cuts through the richness of the coffee-rubbed crust.
Released each September since 2002 to honor Old Forester founder George Garvin Brown's birthday, each vintage is drawn from barrels selected by Master Distiller Chris Morris from a single day's production stored in the distillery's iconic warehouses along Louisville's Whiskey Row.
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