Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2009 Release

97 proof (48.5% ABV). Released September 2nd, 2009. A 12-year small-batch selection released as premium bourbon demand began its dramatic modern ascent.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is released once a year on September 2nd from a unique small-batch of 12-year-old barrels. The 2009 at 97 proof reflects the specific barrel selection that year — the natural proof of the chosen barrels at bottling, slightly higher than the previous two vintages.

The 2009 vintage sits in the early-middle era of the series: released after the founding-era years (2003–2006) but before the Birthday Bourbon series reached its peak demand period (2013–2018). Surviving 2009 stock is meaningfully rarer than 2014–2018 vintages and available only through specialty retailers.

Specs

• Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky (est. 1870)
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 12 years
• Proof: 97 (48.5% ABV)
• Release: September 2nd, 2009 — Annual Birthday Bourbon
• Size: 750ml

Browse the full Old Forester collection or explore all bourbon at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the Birthday Bourbon series? Released annually on September 2nd — founder George Garvin Brown's birthday — each edition is a unique small-batch of 12-year-old barrels. No two vintages share the same barrel selection or proof.
• Why does the proof change between vintages? Each edition is a different barrel selection bottled at or near the barrels' natural proof. The 2007 was 94 proof; the 2009 is 97 proof; later vintages reach into the 100–107 range. The proof variation is a genuine reflection of each year's specific barrel cohort.
• Is the 2009 still available? In limited quantities through specialty retailers with legacy stock. The 2009 is over 15 years out of primary distribution.
• Is Old Forester America's first bottled bourbon? Yes — George Garvin Brown began sealing bourbon in glass bottles with his signature in 1870, establishing the standard for the modern spirits industry.