Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2018 Release

12 years. 101 proof. 120 barrels. The first Old Forester Birthday Bourbon bottled at the new Historic Whiskey Row distillery.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is released once a year on September 2nd — the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown — and has been one of the most anticipated annual Kentucky bourbon releases since its debut. Each edition is a small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels chosen by the master distiller, making every vintage a one-off that reflects the specific barrels that peaked that year.

The 2018 release was distilled in 2006 and is notable for being the first Birthday Bourbon bottled at the new Old Forester Distilling Co. on Louisville's Historic Whiskey Row — a landmark moment for a brand that has been producing bourbon continuously since 1870. The batch comprises 120 barrels: 93 from the 3rd floor of Warehouse J and 27 from the 3rd floor of Warehouse I, each selected for maximum flavor development at that floor position.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Deep amber with warm copper tones.
• Aroma: Caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and a gentle rye spice. Rich and inviting.
• Palate: Full and round — toffee, dark fruit, cinnamon, and a warm grain sweetness from 12 years of oak contact.
• Finish: Long and warming — barrel char, vanilla, and spice fading into a clean close.

Specs

• Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Distilled: June 9, 2006
• Age: 12 years
• Proof: 101 (50.5% ABV)
• Barrels: 120 (93 from Warehouse J 3rd floor, 27 from Warehouse I 3rd floor)
• Size: 750ml
• Release: 2018 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 since 2002, each Birthday Bourbon is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels chosen by the master distiller. No two vintages share the same barrels or proof, making each year a genuinely distinct and unrepeatable expression.
• Why is the 2018 release historically significant? The 2018 is the first Birthday Bourbon bottled at the new Old Forester Distilling Co. on Louisville's Historic Whiskey Row — the same street where George Garvin Brown founded the brand in 1870. It marks a full-circle moment for America's first bottled bourbon brand.
• What does warehouse floor position mean for bourbon flavor? Higher floors experience more dramatic temperature swings — hotter in summer, colder in winter — which accelerates the bourbon's interaction with the barrel wood. Third-floor barrels tend to develop more concentrated caramel, vanilla, and spice character than lower-floor selections.
• How does Birthday Bourbon compare to other Old Forester expressions? Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style and 1910 Old Fine Whisky are the closest in profile within the 1870 Collection. Birthday Bourbon is the most age-forward and barrel-specific of the three — 12 years from hand-selected barrels, released once per year, unrepeatable by design.