Sips & Sites & Bites

Old Forester is set to release its most coveted expression, Birthday Bourbon, through a national sweepstakes.

This year, the whiskey maker noted, the bourbon is aged 12 years and clocks in at 107 proof. Those who want a bottle will be able to earn the opportunity to purchase the rare bottle through a national sweepstakes.

The whiskey itself was hand-selected by Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Master Taster Melissa Rift, along with Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo. In fact, the liquid came from 209 total barrels.

“Twelve years of maturation in Warehouses G and L has produced a rich and unique flavor profile perfect for this sought-after annual release,” Trigo said.

Old Forester releases the limited-edition, vintage-dated bottle each September 2 to celebrate the birthday of the brand’s founder, George Garvin Brown. And just to note, Birthday Bourbon will not be sold at the distillery on September 2.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will be available through an online sweepstakes running on the website http://www.OldForester.com. Anyone winning the opportunity to purchase a bottle through the sweepstakes must purchase and pick it up at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville between September 5th and December 14th. 

Each bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will retail for a suggested $199.99. Limit one per customer and credit card only.

“There’s no better way to celebrate our founder and longstanding history than by getting our rarest expression in the hands of bourbon lovers across the country,” Rift said.

The whiskey maker’s tasting notes show that on the nose, this Birthday Bourbon features scents of bright fruit medley with accents of apricot and apple are complemented by spice cake and buttercream icing. It has undertones of sweet tobacco and warm oak.

It tastes of juicy fruits with toasted oak and warm cinnamon spice rounding out the flavor. It finishes with hints of caramel apple and a mix of sweet tobacco, ground cinnamon and cacao.

For more information on how to enter the sweepstakes and official rules and regulations, check out www.oldforester.com.