The Old Forester 2015 Birthday Bourbon Review was written and shared by Chuck Walker.
Name: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2015
Bottled By: Brown-Forman
ABV: 50.0%
Proof: 100
Age: 12 Years
Notes: According to Brown-Forman, this year’s release was deliberately aged next to a heating duct in order to expose the barrels to more intense heat. The extra heat increases the whiskey’s communication with the charred oak and can produce robust, often intense, wood-driven flavor profiles. If this was their goal with the 2015 release, they knocked it right out of the park. The nose is robust and layered with rich wood, caramel, butterscotch, cinnamon, and pipe tobacco. The palate is equally rich with wood, holiday spices, butterscotch, dark corn syrup, and char. The finish is moderate and spicy, with a touch of bitter pecan shell that is surprisingly pleasant. Though not quite at the level of the 2013 release, this year’s offering is an excellent bourbon by any standard and a worthy addition to your whiskey collection. If you can find a bottle on the shelf, buy it; you may not have a second chance.
History: Created in 1870, Old Forester claims to be the only bourbon whiskey continually distilled and bottled by the same family before, during, and after prohibition. Each year on September 2nd in honor of founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday, Old Forester releases a special edition Birthday Bourbon that has been uniquely crafted and aged for 12 years. Since its first offering in 2002, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon has grown in popularity to become one of the most anticipated annual releases by bourbon enthusiasts around the world.
