Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2023 Release

Released September 2nd, 2023 — the most recent Old Forester Birthday Bourbon. A 12-year small-batch selection from America's first commercially bottled bourbon, released annually on founder George Garvin Brown's birthday.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is released once per year on September 2nd — founder George Garvin Brown's birthday — from a unique small-batch of hand-selected 12-year-old barrels. The 2023 is the most recent vintage, making it the most currently accessible Birthday Bourbon while still being limited and irreplaceable once exhausted. Each vintage uses a different barrel selection at a different natural proof — no two Birthday Bourbons are alike.

George Garvin Brown established Old Forester in 1870 as America's first commercially bottled bourbon — sealed in glass with his personal signature, creating the quality guarantee standard that the entire industry follows today. The Birthday Bourbon series honors this founding legacy annually.

Specs

• Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky (est. 1870)
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Small Batch
• Age: 12 years
• Release: September 2nd, 2023 — Annual Birthday Bourbon
• Size: 750ml

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

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the 2023 compare to earlier vintages? The 2023 is the most recent Birthday Bourbon — more accessible than founding-era vintages (2002–2009) which command significant premiums. Each vintage is a different barrel selection at a different proof, making the 2023 a unique and irreplaceable expression despite being the most recent.
• Is Old Forester America's first bottled bourbon? Yes — George Garvin Brown began sealing bourbon in glass bottles with his personal signature in 1870, establishing the commercial bottling standard the industry follows today.
• Is the 2023 Birthday Bourbon still available? Yes — the most recent vintage, available now.