Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2003 Release

One of the earliest surviving vintage years in the modern Old Forester Birthday Bourbon series. Released September 2nd, 2003 — the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown — from a small batch of hand-selected 12-year-old barrels.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is released once a year on September 2nd — the birthday of George Garvin Brown, who founded Old Forester in 1870 as America's first commercially bottled bourbon. Each edition is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels chosen by the master distiller. No two vintages share the same barrel composition, proof, or flavor profile.

The 2003 vintage is one of the rarest surviving editions of the modern Birthday Bourbon series — now over 20 years out of primary distribution and available only through specialty retailers with legacy stock. For collectors assembling a complete Birthday Bourbon vertical, the early 2000s vintages (2003–2006) are the hardest years to source and the most historically significant as the series' founding editions.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Rich amber with the warm color depth of 12-year-old Brown-Forman distillate.
• Nose: Caramel, vanilla, oak, and warm spice — the classic Birthday Bourbon profile from the early series.
• Palate: Full-bodied and layered — toffee, dried fruit, and baking spice from 12 years in the barrel.
• Finish: Long and warming — oak and caramel fading into a clean, satisfying close.

Specs

• Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky (est. 1870)
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 12 years
• Release: September 2nd, 2003 — Annual Birthday Bourbon
• Size: 750ml

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

Frequently Asked Questions

• Why is the 2003 Birthday Bourbon so rare? The early 2000s Birthday Bourbon vintages (2003–2006) predate the dramatic rise in premium bourbon demand that began around 2010. Production volumes were lower and many bottles were consumed rather than collected. Finding surviving 2003 stock requires a retailer with legacy inventory going back more than 20 years.
• What is the Birthday Bourbon series? Released annually on September 2nd — founder George Garvin Brown's birthday — each edition is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels. No two vintages share the same barrel selection or proof, making each an unrepeatable expression of that specific year.
• Does bourbon improve with bottle age? No — once bottled, bourbon stops developing. Properly stored (upright, cool, dark), the 2003 will have been preserved exactly as it was at bottling. The value is in the historical rarity, not continued aging.
• Is Old Forester the original American bottled bourbon? Yes — George Garvin Brown began selling bourbon sealed in glass bottles with his signature in 1870, establishing the standard for the modern spirits industry. Old Forester is recognized as America's first commercially bottled bourbon.