Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is released once a year on September 2nd — the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown — and each edition is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels hand-chosen by the master distiller. No two vintages share the same barrel composition or proof, making each release genuinely unrepeatable.
The 2020 stands apart in the Birthday Bourbon series for its distinctly tropical character — a flavor profile that surprised many enthusiasts who expected the more traditional caramel-and-oak profile of earlier vintages. The nose opens with white floral notes, magnolia, and citrus, then moves into vanilla, buttery leather, and cocoa. The palate blooms with banana, mango, coconut flakes, and macadamia nut before a long, delicately drying finish with a hint of anise. It is a Birthday Bourbon for those who want something unexpected.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Warm amber with golden highlights.
Aroma: White floral, magnolia, citrus, vanilla, buttery leather, cocoa, brown sugar, and white chocolate — complex and layered with tropical undercurrents.
Palate: A tropical bloom — caramel and brittle toffee at entry, giving way to banana, mango, coconut flakes, and macadamia nut in a distinctive mid-palate departure from the series norm.
Finish: Long and delicately drying — a hint of anise and warm spice lingering through a clean, elegant close.
The 2020 stands apart in the Birthday Bourbon series for its distinctly tropical character — a flavor profile that surprised many enthusiasts who expected the more traditional caramel-and-oak profile of earlier vintages. The nose opens with white floral notes, magnolia, and citrus, then moves into vanilla, buttery leather, and cocoa. The palate blooms with banana, mango, coconut flakes, and macadamia nut before a long, delicately drying finish with a hint of anise. It is a Birthday Bourbon for those who want something unexpected.
Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Warm amber with golden highlights.
Aroma: White floral, magnolia, citrus, vanilla, buttery leather, cocoa, brown sugar, and white chocolate — complex and layered with tropical undercurrents.
Palate: A tropical bloom — caramel and brittle toffee at entry, giving way to banana, mango, coconut flakes, and macadamia nut in a distinctive mid-palate departure from the series norm.
Finish: Long and delicately drying — a hint of anise and warm spice lingering through a clean, elegant close.
