The story of America's oldest continuously operating bourbon brand is now streaming for whiskey enthusiasts everywhere. A new documentary chronicling Old Forester's remarkable 156-year history has been released, offering viewers an inside look at the Louisville, Kentucky distillery that managed to survive one of the most turbulent periods in American alcohol history.
The film comes from the Balas Brothers of Brooklyn, who produced it as part of their ongoing Whiskeyland series. Ryan Balas, one of the filmmakers behind the project, expressed genuine excitement about the endeavor. "What excited us most about making this episode was the chance to dive deep into America's oldest whiskey brand, Old Forester, and bring the archives and tales to life, only to realise that, in the process, we were becoming part of that same tradition," he said.
The documentary is currently available on the Whiskeyland TV YouTube channel, with plans to expand to major streaming platforms soon, including Amazon Prime, Relay, and Tubi. This wider distribution will allow bourbon lovers across the country to explore the brand's rich heritage from their living rooms.
A Legacy That Started in 1870
Old Forester's roots trace back to 1870 when George Garvin Brown founded the company. What sets this brand apart from countless other whiskey operations that have come and gone over the decades is its unique distinction as the only bourbon brand to maintain continuous operations before, during, and after Prohibition. That's a claim no other bourbon maker can match.
The brand operates a distillery on Louisville's famous Whisky Row, a historic district that has become synonymous with Kentucky's bourbon industry. This location itself carries significant weight in bourbon history, representing the heart of an industry that has defined American spirits for generations.
Caleb Trigo, assistant master distiller at Old Forester, highlighted the significance of sharing their story with a broader audience. "We're honoured to share the story of Old Forester, founded by George Garvin Brown in 1870, with a wider audience," Trigo said. For those who work at the distillery, this documentary represents more than just marketing—it's a chance to preserve and celebrate a legacy that spans three centuries.
The Prohibition Survival Story
The documentary's release timing aligns with the return of a special bourbon that tells one of Old Forester's most interesting historical chapters. The brand has brought back 1924, a 10-year-old age-statement bourbon that's part of the Whiskey Row series. This particular release carries deep historical significance that speaks directly to how Old Forester managed to survive when so many others didn't.
The year 1924 fell right in the middle of Prohibition, that dark period for American distilleries when the production and sale of alcohol was banned nationwide. While most distilleries were forced to shut their doors permanently, Old Forester found a lifeline. The brand was among a select few distilleries that obtained a medicinal whiskey permit, allowing them to continue operations when their competitors couldn't.
But the story gets even more interesting. During this time, Old Forester acquired barrels from distilleries that had been forced to close. The brand took these barrels and bottled the contents under the Old Forester name, essentially preserving whiskey that might otherwise have been lost to history. This move not only helped the brand survive but also created a unique moment in bourbon history worth commemorating.
The reissued 1924 bourbon honors this specific chapter. It's a 10-year-old expression that brings those historical practices into the present day, giving modern bourbon drinkers a taste connected to that Prohibition-era ingenuity.
What's in the Bottle
For those wondering what this historical recreation tastes like, Old Forester describes the 1924 as having notes of chocolate-covered graham cracker dusted with cinnamon, with hints of spice on the finish. It's bottled at 50% ABV, which translates to 100 proof—a robust strength that serious bourbon drinkers tend to appreciate.
The whiskey is available for purchase directly from the distillery itself, through Old Forester's website, and at participating retailers across the country. This multi-channel approach makes it accessible to bourbon enthusiasts whether they can make the pilgrimage to Louisville or need to shop closer to home.
More Than Just Marketing
What makes this documentary particularly noteworthy is how it fits into the broader bourbon renaissance that's been unfolding over the past couple decades. American whiskey, and bourbon in particular, has experienced a remarkable resurgence in popularity. What was once considered an old man's drink has found new life with younger generations seeking authenticity and craft in their spirits.
Old Forester's story resonates in this environment because it represents the real deal—not a brand created by marketing executives, but one with genuine roots stretching back to a time when bourbon-making was a much different enterprise. The documentary arrives at a moment when consumers are increasingly interested in the stories behind their bottles, wanting to understand the heritage and tradition that goes into what they're drinking.
The Balas Brothers' Whiskeyland series has been documenting various aspects of American whiskey culture, but tackling a brand with Old Forester's depth of history presented unique opportunities. The archives alone provide material that most newer brands simply don't have access to. Photographs, documents, and records from the 1800s and early 1900s offer tangible connections to a very different era in American history.
The Broader Context
The timing of the documentary's release last month also coincided with another Old Forester initiative—a limited release created specifically for Repeal Day. Repeal Day, celebrated on December 5th, marks the anniversary of the end of Prohibition in 1933. For a brand like Old Forester, which lived through that entire period, Repeal Day holds special meaning. It represents not just the end of a challenging era, but the beginning of a new chapter where bourbon could once again be produced and sold openly.
These various releases and the documentary together paint a picture of a brand that's actively engaged with its own history, finding ways to make that history relevant and interesting to contemporary bourbon drinkers. It's not just about looking backward—it's about understanding how the past shaped the present and continues to influence what goes into bottles today.
The medicinal whiskey permits that allowed Old Forester to survive Prohibition represent a fascinating quirk of that era. While the 18th Amendment banned the production and sale of alcohol, exceptions were carved out for medicinal purposes. Doctors could prescribe whiskey for various ailments, and certain distilleries were permitted to produce it for this specific use. This created a legal pathway that Old Forester successfully navigated, demonstrating the kind of business acumen that has kept the brand alive for more than a century and a half.
A Living History
What the documentary ultimately captures is the idea that Old Forester isn't just a museum piece or a historical curiosity. It's a working distillery producing bourbon today using methods and knowledge passed down through generations. The people working there now are part of an unbroken chain stretching back to George Garvin Brown's original vision in 1870.
For bourbon drinkers, especially those who appreciate the craftsmanship and tradition behind their favorite spirits, this documentary offers something valuable—a deeper understanding of what makes Old Forester unique in an increasingly crowded marketplace. With new bourbon brands launching seemingly every month, standing out requires more than just good marketing. It requires a genuine story, and Old Forester certainly has that.
The 156 years covered in the documentary span enormous changes in American society—the end of the frontier era, two world wars, Prohibition, the Great Depression, the rise of mass media, and the digital age. Through it all, Old Forester kept making bourbon, adapting when necessary but maintaining core principles that George Garvin Brown established more than a century ago.
Whether viewers are longtime bourbon enthusiasts or newcomers curious about American whiskey, the documentary provides an accessible entry point into understanding why bourbon holds such a special place in American culture and why brands like Old Forester have earned their reputations over generations rather than years.
