This Could Be The Best New Bourbon Release Of 2020, Here’s How To Find It

On Wednesday, September 2nd, Old Forester will release its annual bourbon release commemorating the birthday of company founder George Garvin Brown. This will mark the 20th iteration in the series, aptly titled Birthday Bourbon. And this one is particularly auspicious—lined up with the 150th anniversary of the brand. Perhaps why this particular offering is so sensational.

Since its start, Birthday Bourbon has consisted of a relatively small sampling of hand-selected barrels. For a flagship label, a brand will blend together from thousands of casks to arrive at a consistent flavor, bottle after bottle. Here, that number is whittled down a precious 95—each 10 years in age, exhibiting extra-ordinary characteristics once crossing over into that sweet spot zone of bourbon maturation. The full allotment is vintage dated to 2010, representing a single day of production at the Louisville distillery.

Despite these exacting specifications, the last few years of Birthday Bourbon haven’t been exceptionally noteworthy. They weren’t bad whiskies, by any means, but in justifying a hefty $130 price tag, they have fallen short. As we’ve noted here, Old Forester 1920 is a brilliant whiskey at less than half that cost. And while the 2019 ‘OFBB’ is now fetching over $1000 in certain corners of the internet, that 1920 is still just sitting quietly on the shelve at $60.

I’m here to emphatically tell you that the 2020 variation is definitely worth a triple-figure sum. It’s a beautiful, 98-proof liquid that marks all the right boxes from start to finish. Its alluring aroma holds bouquets of magnolia and candied citrus peel. The tasting experience strikes a compelling compromise between assertive barrel spice and sweet-roasted drinkability. It lingers on the palate with purpose.

“We’re really proud of what we’ve produced this year and think it’s a great way to celebrate George’s birthday and Old Forester’s historic anniversary,” says Jackie Zykan, the master taster for the brand, who hand selected the component liquids along with master distiller Chris Morris. “Being part of the Birthday Bourbon selection process is one of my favorite parts of my job because of the legacy and tradition this expression represents.” This is the third year that it has come together at the brand’s shiny new digs along Louisville’s Historic Whiskey Row.

It’s true that no matter what ends up in the bottle, the prestige and scarcity behind this specific release is going to cause a stir amongst the collectors and enthusiasts. The nature of its assembly guarantees that you’ll never taste another bottling precisely like it—ever again. And the challenges of procuring one in 2020 will no doubt be compounded by the fact that this is genuinely awesome juice.

So, let me do my best to help you get your hands on one. First step is to plan ahead. Don’t just wait until the September 2nd release date and expect to walk into a local package shop and get lucky. No; you need to reach out to retailers who you know are typically stocked on Old Forester products—and even labels from its parent company of Brown-Forman (think Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, The Glendronach, Herradura). You can find a store locator based upon zip code, here. Now, get to it!