Old Forester 2018 Birthday Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The 2018 release of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon marks the 18th release of the series. Its 101 proof is the series’ highest proof to date. The 2018 edition is comprised of 120 barrels, which according to Brown-Forman consists of 93 barrels matured together on the 3rd floor, on the Northwest side of Warehouse J. The remaining 27 barrels matured together on the 3rd floor, on the Northwest side of Warehouse I. This year’s bottling had an unusually low yield of just 39%, and 5 barrels were actually found to be empty, resulting in 14,400 bottles being released. This is also the first time the series was bottled at the the new Old Forester Distilling Co., located in downtown Louisville.

Old Forester 2018 Birthday Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Tasting Notes

Nose: Rich and deep, the nose on this year's edition continues the tradition of this series delivering a great experience. Sweet dark berries, caramel, brown sugar, and oak make for a dynamic mixture that impresses from first whiff. Beneath these scents lies a slight hint of spice, which blends nicely into the overall experience.

Palate: The sip itself is less viscous than one would expect after the rich nose. Despite the thinner mouthfeel, the sweet flavors still carry over nicely from the nose. Dark berries appear again and are joined by vanilla, baking chocolate, rye grain, and light oak. While good, the palate leaves you wishing that all the flavors had just a bit more of a pop than what they actually deliver.

Finish: The finish starts with a a touch of heat. Caramel, light oak, tobacco leaves, green pepper, and rye spice are predominant. The caramel and rye spice eventually drop off, leaving a pleasant mixture of oak and tobacco leaves. This finish lingers for a surprisingly lengthy amount of time.

Distillery Information

The Brown–Forman Corporation is one of the largest American-owned companies in the spirits and wine business. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, it manufactures several well known brands throughout the world, including Jack Daniel's, Early Times, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, Canadian Mist, GlenDronach, BenRiach, Glenglassaugh, Finlandia, Herradura, Korbel, and Chambord. Brown–Forman formerly owned Southern Comfort and Tuaca before selling them off in 2016.

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