Old Forester’s New Birthday Bourbon Uses Sweet Mash Process for First Time in 25 Releases

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Old Forester Releases 2025 Birthday Bourbon, Bottled at 12 Years Old and 92 Proof.

Old Forester announced the 2025 edition of its annual Birthday Bourbon, one of the brand’s most anticipated limited releases. This year’s expression is 12 years old, bottled at 92 proof, and marks a notable departure from tradition with its fermentation process.

A Rare Use of Sweet Mash

Unlike previous years, the 2025 release was created without the use of “setback,” a common distilling practice that uses material from a previous fermentation to ensure consistency. Instead, Old Forester employed a “sweet mash” process, relying entirely on freshly-propagated yeast. According to Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo, “For our 25th Birthday Bourbon release, the absence of setback allowed the yeast to express its full character, creating a flavor profile that’s both delicate and complex.”

Tasting Notes from Old Forester

  • Color: Honeycomb
  • Aroma: Herbal tea and cardamom, with raw oak, tropical fruits, and green apple
  • Taste: Oak and vanilla layered with sweet citrus and clove spice
  • Finish: Candied apple, burnt sugar, leather, and chai spice

Single-Day Production and Barrel Selection

Like all prior versions of Birthday Bourbon, the bourbon for this release was distilled on a single day, April 5, 2013, and aged for 12 years before its selection. It comes from 210 barrels stored in Warehouse K, on floors 1 and 5. Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo oversaw the barrel selection.

Honoring the Founder’s Legacy

Birthday Bourbon is released annually on September 2 to commemorate the birthday of Old Forester’s founder, George Garvin Brown. “There’s no better way to honor our founder than by sharing this rare and remarkable expression with bourbon lovers nationwide,” said Master Taster Melissa Rift.

Limited Release Through Sweepstakes and Retail

Old Forester will distribute the 2025 Birthday Bourbon through an online sweepstakes running from August 18 to August 21, 2025, on OldForester.com. Winners must purchase and collect their bottles at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville between September 4 and December 20, 2025. The suggested retail price is $199.99 per bottle, with a one-bottle limit per customer. The distillery confirmed that Birthday Bourbon will not be available for purchase on-site on September 2, the brand’s traditional release day. Limited quantities will also reach select retailers nationwide.

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