Old Forester Unveils Coveted Birthday Bourbon — and There’s Something Different About It This Year

On Monday, Old Forester announced the 2025 release of arguably its most coveted expression: Birthday Bourbon. 2025’s version is aged 12 years and bottled at 92 proof. This year, there’s something majorly different about it on the production side: It was made using sweet mash fermentation process.

Most American whiskeys are made with the sour mash process, which kickstarts fermentation using “setback” — the mash remnants from the previous batch. The absence of setback — totally starting from scratch with freshly propagated yeast — is sweet mash, the opposite of sour mash. The sweet mash process is mostly used by craft distillers, with Indiana’s Hard Truth and Kentucky’s Wilderness Trail, Castle & Key and Peerless being some of the most notable examples. Almost all of the major producers of the ilk of Old Forester, however, typically rely on sour mash. So why the change?

According to Old Forester Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo, the absence of setback “allowed the yeast to express its full character, creating a flavor profile that’s both delicate and complex.”

The limited-edition bourbon, drawn from 210 barrels that were all filled on April 5, 2013, marks the 25th release in the brand’s annual series honoring founder George Garvin Brown. This year’s Birthday Bourbon was aged in Warehouse K on floors 1 and 5 and selected by Old Forester Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Trigo.

Sweepstakes Returns for Bottle Purchases

The 2025 release will not be sold at the Old Forester Distillery on Sept. 2. Instead, bottles will be offered through an online sweepstakes at OldForester.com, open Monday through Wednesday. Winners must purchase and pick up their bottles at the Louisville distillery between Sept. 4 and Dec. 20. The suggested retail price is $199.99. Purchases are limited to one per customer.

“There’s no better way to honor our founder than by sharing this rare and remarkable expression with bourbon lovers nationwide,” Master Taster Melissa Rift said in a news release

The whiskey will also reach select retailers in limited quantities.

Tasting Notes, According to Old Forester

Color: Honeycomb

Nose: Notes of herbal tea and cardamom complimented by hints of raw oak as well as tropical fruits and green apple

Taste: Silky notes of oak and vanilla, balanced with sweet citrus and clove spice Finish – candied apple and burnt sugar with leather and chai spice