Old Forester Birthday Bourbon

Birthday Bourbon is Old Forester's flagship annual release, launched in 2002 and released each September 2nd to mark founder George Garvin Brown's birthday. Each edition is a vintage-dated, 12-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon drawn from a specific day or season of production, making every year a one-time-only expression that is never repeated.

Because each release comes from one narrow slice of production aged in specific warehouse locations, the character shifts meaningfully year to year: some vintages lean into dark fruit and oak, others into caramel and baking spice. That variation is the point, and it's why collectors chase complete runs and debate favorite years the way wine lovers debate vintages.

The earliest releases from the 2000s are among the scarcest, while several modern vintages have developed strong followings through reviews, awards, and distinctive flavor profiles. Because each year is a separate finite release, collectors often target specific vintages or build vertical sets. Our listings state the release year clearly.

It's one of the best in American whiskey. A vintage-dated bourbon released on a birthday, built for celebration, makes a natural gift for September birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries, and pairing the release year with a meaningful year in the recipient's life adds a personal touch. Gift-ready presentation and protected shipping come as standard.

Every Birthday Bourbon states its vintage on the front label along with the batch details of that year's release, so identification is straightforward compared with most limited bourbons. If you're building a vertical or hunting a specific year, contact us; availability changes fast and we can flag when a missing vintage lands in stock.