Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2017 Release

12 years. Released September 2nd, 2017. A small-batch selection from master distiller Chris Morris honoring the birthday of Old Forester founder George Garvin Brown.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is released once a year on the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown, and has been one of Kentucky's most anticipated annual bourbon releases since its introduction. Each edition is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels hand-chosen by the master distiller — no two vintages are the same proof or barrel composition, making every release a one-off expression of that specific year's aging.

Old Forester holds a singular place in American whiskey history: it is the first bourbon ever sold exclusively in sealed bottles, introduced by George Garvin Brown in 1870 as a guarantee of quality and authenticity. The Birthday Bourbon series honors that founding story with a release that treats the annual barrel selection as a craft statement rather than a commercial product.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with warm mahogany highlights.
• Aroma: Caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, dark cherry, and a warm cinnamon spice.
• Palate: Rich and full-bodied — toffee, dried fruit, baking spice, and a well-integrated oak backbone from 12 years of barrel contact.
• Finish: Long and warm — vanilla, barrel char, and spice fading into a clean, dry close.

Specs

• Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 12 years
• Size: 750ml
• Release: 2017 Annual Birthday Bourbon

Browse the full Old Forester collection or explore all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon series? Released annually on September 2nd, each Birthday Bourbon is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels chosen by the master distiller. Each vintage differs in proof and barrel selection — the 2017 will never be reproduced.
• Why is Old Forester significant in bourbon history? Founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown, Old Forester was the first bourbon ever sold exclusively in sealed bottles — a guarantee of authenticity at a time when adulteration of spirits was rampant. It is the oldest continuously produced bourbon brand in America.
• Is the 2017 Birthday Bourbon still available? In limited quantities. Birthday Bourbon vintages sell quickly at retail and command premiums on the secondary market as they age out of circulation. If the 2017 is available, acquiring it now is the only opportunity.
• How does Old Forester Birthday Bourbon compare to the 1920 Prohibition Style? The 1920 is proofed at 115 and designed to replicate the high-proof, barrel-strength character of pre-Prohibition bourbon. Birthday Bourbon is aged 12 years from specifically selected small batches — more nuanced, more age-forward, and inherently limited by design.