Every year, bourbon enthusiasts across America mark their calendars for early September, eagerly awaiting the release of Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon. This limited-edition whiskey, a tribute to the brand’s founder, George Garvin Brown, has become a cornerstone of American whiskey culture since its debut in 2002. For its 25th release in 2025, Old Forester has pulled out all the stops, delivering a bottle that’s both a nod to tradition and a bold step into uncharted territory. This year’s expression, a 12-year-old bourbon bottled at 92 proof, introduces a sweet mash process that sets it apart from its predecessors, offering a flavor profile that’s as intriguing as it is delicious.
A Break from Tradition: The Sweet Mash Surprise
Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon is known for its consistency, a quality often achieved through the sour mash process. This time-honored technique involves adding a portion of stillage from a previous distillation run to the new mash, stabilizing pH levels and ensuring a predictable flavor across batches. It’s a method that’s practically synonymous with bourbon production, used by many distilleries to maintain uniformity. But for 2025, Old Forester decided to shake things up.
Instead of relying on the sour mash process, the 2025 Birthday Bourbon was crafted using a sweet mash approach. This means no setback—stillage from a previous run—was used during fermentation. Instead, the distillery relied entirely on freshly propagated yeast, a method that’s less common and more labor-intensive due to the need for meticulous cleaning and precise control. The result? A whiskey that’s silky, sweet, and brimming with character, as the yeast was allowed to fully express itself without the influence of prior batches.
Caleb Trigo, Old Forester’s Assistant Master Distiller, explained the impact of this choice: “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.” This shift wasn’t just a whim—it was a calculated move to celebrate a milestone release with something truly special.
The Making of a Milestone
The 2025 Birthday Bourbon comes from 210 barrels filled on a single day, April 5, 2013, and aged in Warehouse K on floors 1 and 5 at Brown-Forman’s Louisville facilities. These barrels were carefully selected by Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Caleb Trigo, both of whom have a deep understanding of Old Forester’s legacy and flavor profile. The bourbon was bottled at 92 proof, a strength that allows its nuanced flavors to shine without overwhelming the palate.
The choice to use barrels from a single day’s production adds to the exclusivity of this release. Each year, Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon is vintage-dated, meaning it captures the essence of a specific moment in time. The 2025 batch, drawn from that spring day in 2013, carries the weight of 12 years of careful aging, resulting in a whiskey that’s both refined and robust.
Tasting the Difference
What makes the 2025 Birthday Bourbon stand out is its flavor, a direct result of the sweet mash process. According to Old Forester’s tasting notes, the whiskey greets the nose with a bouquet of herbal tea and cardamom, accented by hints of raw oak, tropical fruit, and green apple. On the palate, it delivers a silky texture with rich oak and vanilla notes, balanced by bright citrus and a touch of clove spice. The finish lingers with candied apple, burnt sugar, leather, and a warm chai spice that invites another sip.
This flavor profile is a testament to the sweet mash process, which allows the yeast to take center stage. Without the stabilizing influence of setback, the fermentation process becomes a bit of a wild card, but in the hands of Old Forester’s skilled team, it’s a gamble that pays off. The result is a bourbon that feels both familiar and fresh, a fitting tribute to George Garvin Brown’s legacy of innovation.
The Hunt for a Bottle
Getting your hands on a bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is no easy feat. With a suggested retail price of $199.99, it’s a premium offering, but its rarity makes it a prized possession for collectors and enthusiasts alike. The 2025 release will be available through a combination of an online sweepstakes and limited distribution to select retailers, bars, and restaurants across the country.
The sweepstakes, hosted on OldForester.com, runs from August 18 to August 21, 2025. Winners will have the chance to purchase a bottle at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, between September 4 and December 20, 2025. There’s a strict limit of one bottle per customer, and purchases must be made with a credit card. For those hoping to snag a bottle, it’s worth noting that the distillery will not sell Birthday Bourbon on its release date, September 2, to avoid the chaos of past releases.
Melissa Rift, Old Forester’s Master Taster, summed up the excitement: “There’s no better way to honor our founder than by sharing this rare and remarkable expression with bourbon lovers nationwide.” For those lucky enough to secure a bottle, it’s not just a purchase—it’s a piece of history.
A Legacy Worth Celebrating
Old Forester holds a special place in American whiskey history as Brown-Forman’s founding brand, established in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown was a pioneer, bottling bourbon at a time when most whiskey was sold by the barrel. His commitment to quality led him to seal and sign each bottle, guaranteeing its purity with the bold claim, “There is nothing better in the market.” That promise still resonates today, and the Birthday Bourbon release is a testament to Old Forester’s enduring dedication to craftsmanship.
The 2025 release marks 25 years of Birthday Bourbon, a tradition that began in 2002 to celebrate Brown’s birthday on September 2, 1846. Each year, the release generates a frenzy among bourbon fans, who see it as both a collector’s item and a chance to taste something truly unique. The decision to use a sweet mash process for this milestone release underscores Old Forester’s willingness to take risks while staying true to its roots.
Why It Matters
For bourbon lovers, the 2025 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is more than just a bottle—it’s a conversation starter, a centerpiece for a home bar, and a chance to experience a whiskey that pushes boundaries. The sweet mash process, combined with the careful selection of barrels and the expertise of Old Forester’s team, has created a bourbon that’s both a tribute to the past and a glimpse into the future.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or someone who simply enjoys a good pour, this release offers something special. Its silky texture, complex flavors, and limited availability make it a must-have for anyone who appreciates the art of bourbon-making. As the bottles hit shelves and sweepstakes winners claim their prizes, the 2025 Birthday Bourbon is sure to spark discussions around tasting tables and barrooms across the country.
For more details on how to enter the sweepstakes or find a bottle, visit OldForester.com. Just be ready to act fast—this is one bourbon that won’t sit on shelves for long.
