I came across this bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (2014) a few months ago at a bar in NYC and they were pouring it for $14 a glass. That’s an incredible deal and so after slowly sipping and taking notes on the first glass I did the only thing you can when coming across a decent deal like this… I asked for another pour. I did it so I could validate my findings. Basically I did it for YOU.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon was created to celebrate the birthday of Brown-Forman founder George Garvin Brown. George was born on Sept 2nd 1846 and founded the company in 1870 with the idea of selling “top-shelf” whiskey in individual sealed glass bottles. Before then whiskey was sold by the barrel and sometimes by the jug. Brown was a pharmaceutical sales man in Louisville at the time so one can imagine being around all of those apothecary bottles lent at least a little bit of inspiration for this idea that helped shape the bourbon industry that exists today.
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Info – 2014
Region: Kentucky, USA
Distiller: Old Forester
Mashbill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted barley
Cask: New charred white oak
Age: NAS
ABV: 43.5%
Price: $60
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon Review – 2014
EYE
Caramel
NOSE
The nose is a fairly standard bourbon nose, but it’s warm, inviting and well developed. Notes of vanilla, spice, citrus, and dark sweets like maple, caramel and butterscotch blend nicely with some light fruity notes and a touch of coca.
PALATE
The flavor follows suite with a warm delivery of spice, caramel, vanilla, oak and dark fruit. Some light touches of nuts and cocoa add a bit of dimension and help this tasty dram stand out a bit more.
FINISH
Medium fade of caramel, vanilla, spice, oak and cocoa.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Moderately well balanced with a medium body and warm smooth texture.
OVERALL
The 2014 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is a delightful whiskey. It’s no barn burner, but there’s a lot to be said for a well rounded, basic, bourbon that’s come together nicely and delivered warmly. I found myself enjoying it so much, and the bar pouring it cheaply enough, that I ended up having 2 glasses of it and was the only whiskey I drank that night. I was so enthralled by what I was drinking, and the price they were pouring, I went back the next night for a 3rd glass; that should definitely tell you something.
SCORE: 86/100