This is the 25th edition of the yearly party thrown for George Garvin Brown who founded Old Forester at 24 years young in 1846. At 25 editions in, this bottle is basically the silver anniversary guest who still insists they’re “not that old.”
Nose: Charred oak, pipe tobacco, caramel sauce, brown sugar, baking spices, fresh-cut apple, elderflower tea.
It smells like a birthday party in a wood-paneled study. There’s cake in the kitchen, but someone’s uncle is smoking a pipe on the porch telling Civil War stories no one fact-checked. The apple and elderflower keep it classy. The charred oak keeps it grounded. Very “celebration,” but with suspenders.
Palate: Baking spices, rye grain, tobacco leaf, faint brown sugar, faint dried spiced apple. Thin mouthfeel.
The flavor shows up dressed for the party… but maybe didn’t eat beforehand. Spice and rye grain bring energy, tobacco keeps things mature, but the mouthfeel is a little light—like the birthday cake looked amazing but the slice was thinner than expected but still quite tasty.
Finish: Leather, dry charred oak, rye spice, dash of baking spices. It says goodbye quickly. Like that guest who hugs everyone, checks their watch, and slips out before helping clean up.
Overall: Birthday Bourbon 2025 brings the vibes: mature oak, spice, caramel sweetness, and refined edges. It feels like a well-organized party thrown by someone who alphabetizes their bourbon shelf.
Is it loud? No.
Is it chaotic? Absolutely not.
Is it a respectable, oak-forward celebration? Yes.
Happy Birthday, George. You aged well.
