Old Forester Birthday Bourbon - 2020 Release

12 years. Released September 2nd, 2020. A tropical-forward departure from earlier Birthday Bourbon vintages — one of the most distinctive flavor profiles in the series.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is released once a year on September 2nd — the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown — and each edition is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels hand-chosen by the master distiller. No two vintages share the same barrel composition or proof, making each release genuinely unrepeatable.

The 2020 stands apart in the Birthday Bourbon series for its distinctly tropical character — a flavor profile that surprised many enthusiasts who expected the more traditional caramel-and-oak profile of earlier vintages. The nose opens with white floral notes, magnolia, and citrus, then moves into vanilla, buttery leather, and cocoa. The palate blooms with banana, mango, coconut flakes, and macadamia nut before a long, delicately drying finish with a hint of anise. It is a Birthday Bourbon for those who want something unexpected.

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Warm amber with golden highlights.
• Aroma: White floral, magnolia, citrus, vanilla, buttery leather, cocoa, brown sugar, and white chocolate — complex and layered with tropical undercurrents.
• Palate: A tropical bloom — caramel and brittle toffee at entry, giving way to banana, mango, coconut flakes, and macadamia nut in a distinctive mid-palate departure from the series norm.
• Finish: Long and delicately drying — a hint of anise and warm spice lingering through a clean, elegant close.

Specs

• Distillery: Old Forester Distilling Co., Louisville, Kentucky
• Style: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Age: 12 years
• Size: 750ml
• Release: 2020 Annual Birthday Bourbon

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

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes the 2020 Birthday Bourbon different from earlier vintages? The 2020 is notable for its distinctly tropical flavor profile — banana, mango, coconut, and macadamia nut — which marks a significant departure from the more traditional caramel, vanilla, and oak character of vintages like 2016–2018. It is the most surprising and divisive Birthday Bourbon in the modern series.
• What is the Old Forester Birthday Bourbon series? Released annually on September 2nd, each Birthday Bourbon is a unique small-batch selection of 12-year-old barrels chosen by the master distiller. No two vintages share the same barrel selection or proof — the 2020 will never be reproduced.
• Why does Old Forester release on September 2nd? September 2nd is the birthday of George Garvin Brown, who founded Old Forester in 1870 — making it America's first commercially bottled bourbon. The annual release honors that founding moment.
• Is the 2020 Birthday Bourbon still available? In limited quantities. Birthday Bourbon vintages sell quickly and are not restocked. The 2020 is now several years out of primary release and available only through specialty retailers.