Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2025 arrives from Kentucky, drawn from a single day of production and crafted through a rare sweet-mash process that sets this release apart. Aged 12 years and bottled at 92 proof, it opens with notes of charred oak, caramel, brown sugar, pipe tobacco, fresh apple, and warm baking spices, creating an aroma that feels both nostalgic and indulgent in one breath.
Its palate moves softly with hints of rye grain, tobacco leaf, faint dried spiced apple, and a whisper of brown sugar carried on a lighter mouthfeel. Made from freshly propagated yeast rather than setback, the ingredients highlight grain purity and natural sweetness, allowing the flavor to unfold with clarity. The finish settles quickly with leather, dry oak, rye spice, and a final dusting of warming spice, best enjoyed neat or with a slow-melting cube to open its subtler layers.