Old Forester Birthday Bourbon has been one of the most sought-after LTO whiskey releases over the past few years. I believe the reason is three-fold: the name “birthday bourbon” is inherently sentimental, the bottle design is relatively unique, and it’s one of the few age-stated Old Forester products. Although I’m hardly impervious to whiskey marketing, Birthday Bourbon is one I’ve almost never felt drawn to. I’d even say my interest in this product line has only waned over the years as its standout qualities become decreasingly relevant over time.

Until the introduction of Old Forester 1924 in 2024, the chief appeal of Birthday Bourbon was its age statement. Now, it’s true that 1924 uses a different recipe from other Old Forester products (the lower-rye one found in King of Kentucky), but I’d argue this makes 1924 that much more appealing just by association. Not to mention 1924 is both easier to find and easier on the wallet than Birthday Bourbon. But let’s say you’re a huge fan of the standard Old Forester mash bill and really want it at a higher (usually double-digit) age; Birthday Bourbon is basically your only option.

This brings us to the 2025 release of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, which I only got to try because someone offered up a free sample to the first person who’d comment and confirm their birthday being that day. And guess whose birthday it was?

Perhaps coincidentally, this is the 25^th release of Birthday Bourbon, which Old Forester decided to shake things up just a bit for. As far as I know, Old Forester only uses the sour mash process unless a bottle (or press release) specifies, which the 2025 Birthday Bourbon does, meaning no setback was used from previous fermentation runs. 210 barrels from warehouse K, floors 1 and 5, comprised this year’s batch, with the whiskey inside distilled on April 5, 2013, before being selected by Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris (also from Woodford Reserve) and Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo. The final product was aged for 12 years, bottled at 46% ABV, and retailed for about $200.

Nose: Cherry, Vanilla Custard, Orange Cream, Leather

Sweet, Musty, Fragrant

Palate: Leather, Bread Pudding, Vanilla, Banana

Rubbery, Heavy-Handed, Unbalanced

Finish: Vanilla, Dark Brown Sugar, Cherry, Leather

Medicinal, Syrupy, Creamy

This is the second time I’ve tried Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, with my first being a pour of 2016’s when I visited Bardstown Bourbon Company in 2021. My thoughts on that edition boiled down to, “good, but not that much better than 1920.” Four years later and I can confidently say that the 2025 version does little to change my overall apathy towards Birthday Bourbon. I’ll get the good news out of the way first: this is ultimately an enjoyable pour with a surprisingly competent finish when you consider the low proof point. The nosing experience is also quite good, if a bit on the ordinary side with how vanilla-forward it is.

Unfortunately, the 2025 Birthday Bourbon is an overall unremarkable pour that brings a sloppy drinking experience to the table. While the nose and very end of the finish are positive, everything in-between treads into unpleasant territory. There’s such an emphasis on vanilla, which I normally love, but it comes with heavy leather and medicinal cherry notes. Based on The Bourbon Culture’s breakdown of Brown-Forman’s warehouses, this checks out, since warehouse K is apparently known for its antique oak notes, with some folks getting cherry as the dominant fruit note. In fact, when you break down the experience, this isn’t completely unlike what I get from Weller 12-Year, albeit with more richness.

If Birthday Bourbon is meant to be a representation of Old Forester at its peak, I can’t say that I’m impressed. I don’t think anyone who’s missed out on trying it is actually missing out on much; both the Signature 100 proof and 1910 offer more pleasant experiences. Perhaps the aforementioned sentimentality is enough to win some folks over, and I’m not here to dismiss that. However, if you’re looking for a bourbon that justifies its LTO status through and through, this isn’t it.