Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2014 Release

12 years. Released September 2nd, 2014. One of the rarest Birthday Bourbon vintages still in circulation.

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 — every vintage is a different proof, different barrel selection, and genuinely unrepeatable.

The 2014 is now over a decade out of release and represents one of the most difficult Birthday Bourbon vintages to acquire. Bottles at this age are entirely out of primary retail distribution and surface only through specialty retailers like Wooden Cork with legacy inventory. For serious collectors of the series, this is the kind of gap that rarely closes once it opens.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with rich, warm tones that hint at extended barrel contact.
• Aroma: Caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, dried cherry, and a gentle cinnamon spice.
• Palate: Rich and full — toffee, dark fruit, baking spice, and a long warm oak integration from 12 years in the barrel.
• Finish: Long and dry — barrel char, vanilla, and spice tapering into a clean, satisfying close.

Specs

• Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 12 years
• Size: 750ml
• Release: 2014 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. The 2014 will never be reproduced and is among the rarest vintages in the series.
• Why is Old Forester significant in bourbon history? Founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown, Old Forester was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed bottles — making it the oldest continuously produced bourbon brand in America and one of the founding names in the category.
• How rare is the 2014 vintage specifically? Extremely. The 2014 is more than a decade out of release, out of primary distribution, and appears only in the inventory of specialty retailers with legacy stock. It is one of the hardest Birthday Bourbon vintages to source.
• Is this a good addition to a Birthday Bourbon vertical collection? Yes — the 2014 is one of the critical gaps in most collector verticals. If you are assembling the complete series, this vintage is significantly harder to find than 2017 or later releases.