George Garvin Brown is hardly a household name. But in the world of whiskey he’s kind of a big deal. Way back in 1870, the intrepid distiller founded a humble little brand called Old Forester. Brown’s background in pharmaceuticals inspired him to sell the new product in sealed glass bottles— something that no other bourbon maker was doing at the time.
The consistent quality of his output was immediately embraced by a broad audience—and the rest, as they say, is hooch history. Today, Old Forester’s parent company, Brown-Forman (which also owns Jack Daniel's, Woodford Reserve, and Early Times) moves more American whiskey than anyone else.
To commemorate the founder's memory, Old Forester drops a supremely limited edition whiskey every year on Brown’s birthday, September 2nd. The aptly named Birthday Bourbon has been a huge hit with collectors and connoisseurs since it first debuted in 2002, when it landed as another industry innovation: the first ever vintage-dated bourbon.
Now it’s time for a taste of the 2024 iteration.
We can say without hesitation that it’s befitting of the Brown legacy. A slow nose of the mahogany-hued sipper reveals a bowl of freshly-picked stone fruit: nectarines, sliced pluots, and over-ripened apricots, to be precise. In the sip, the 107-proof juice punches well beyond its weight class. Meaning it delivers a wallop of warming cinnamon spice, molasses, and tobacco box—along with some unmistakable heat. It’s the sort of assertiveness that makes bourbon aficionados swoon. Most notable, however, might be the rich mouthfeel of the whiskey, which holds a walnut-like oiliness.
To arrive at this enviable outcome, master distiller emeritus Chris Morris and master taster Melissa Rift hand-selected 209 barrels which they deemed of exceptional quality. The flavor profile of Birthday Bourbon varies from year-to-year, and that’s kind of the point; a unique character that will never be replicated. But they're always compiled from small batches. Since inception, they have also always ranged between eight to 13 years in age statement (a span generally regarded as the sweet spot for Kentucky bourbon maturation). The 2024 offering is somewhat near the upper end of that spectrum.
As a result of its rarity and uniqueness, Birthday Bourbon has been subject to runaway pricing on secondary markets. To alleviate this unfortunate trend, Old Forester ran a special online sweepstakes for fans to “win” a bottle at its retail cost of $200. The only catch: you’ll have to make your way down to the distillery in Louisville, KY, before December 14 to claim the prize.
Beyond the Bluegrass State, you’ll have to rely on the kindness of your local liquor store to keep things reasonable. We like your chances, as pricing of the last few releases has been coming back to Earth as of late. Your best bet for scoring one of these iconic, still-shaped bottles is to get out there early, and often, on the morning of September 2nd. It’s George Carvin Brown’s birthday—and you can cry if you want to—but we’d much prefer you simply drink great bourbon in his honor.
Related: We've Tasted Hundreds of Bourbons. These Are the Best of 2024
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