Category: Old Forester Birthday

Old Forester Announced 2023 Birthday Bourbon Release and Sweepstakes

Brown-Forman brand Old Forester has announced the 2023 release of their highly-coveted Birthday Bourbon. New this year is that in addition to bottles being available throughout the country, there will also be national sweepstakes running August 24…

Brown-Forman brand Old Forester has announced the 2023 release of their highly-coveted Birthday Bourbon. New this year is that in addition to bottles being available throughout the country, there will also be national sweepstakes running August 24 through August 31, 2023 where winners can pick up their bottles at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville (details below). 

Old Forester Master Taster Melissa Rift says:
Every year, Birthday Bourbon is a unique opportunity for lovers of Old Forester to taste a snapshot of bourbon that was laid down over a decade ago. This year's 12-year-old offering serves up a classic Old Forester profile that honors (Old Forester creator) George Garvin Brown's ongoing legacy.
Bourbon Release

This edition has been aged 12 years in Warehouse I, 5th floor (no idea why this matters). The batch is made up of 103 barrels worth and comes in at 96 proof (48% alcohol) and carries a $169.99 MSRP. It carries the following tasting notes:
  • Nose: Bright candied citrus and floral overtones give way to rich turbinado sugar and roasted coffee beans as slight cedar and charred oak round out the nose.
  • Taste: Subtle citrus with heavy notes of dark honey, molasses and charred oak.
  • Finish: a dry toasty oaked caramel with lingering bittersweet tannins.
Sweepstakes

The sweepstakes will run from August 24, 2023 at 9am through 9am on August 30, 2023 with winners announced on September 2, 2023. Bottles will be available for pickup at the distillery between September 8, 2023 through December 23, 2023. You can enter the sweepstakes at:

https://www.oldforester.com/birthday-bourbon-sweepstakes/


My Take

I have no idea of the significance anytime a distiller mentions where the bourbon was aged. It always makes me laugh like the average consumer is that familiar with their warehouses and locations. 

The sweepstakes is very confusing. The press release stated it went through August 31, but the official site says 9am on the 30th. In order to be safe, I'd recommend entering immediately if you have the means to get to Louisville. 

This bourbon is always in demand and people are paying way more than the $170 retail price on the secondary market. This or an OHLQ lottery is our only chance to purchase at retail. My recommendation is to enter the sweepstakes and hope for the best. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the chat below. 

2022 Birthday Bourbon
2021 Birthday Bourbon
2020 Birthday Bourbon
2019 Birthday Bourbon

Source: Old Forester

Old Forester Announces Birthday Bourbon Sweepstakes – Ends August 31

For the first time in the 22 year history of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, bourbon fans across the country will have the opportunity to purchase bottle of the 2022 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon at Old Forester Distillery in Louisville, KY.Master Disti…

For the first time in the 22 year history of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, bourbon fans across the country will have the opportunity to purchase bottle of the 2022 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon at Old Forester Distillery in Louisville, KY.

Master Distiller Chris Morris says:
Birthday Bourbon holds a special place among Old Forester's limited-releases, celebrating the legacy of the Brown family. We're excited to open up the opportunity for bourbon lovers all over the country to get their hands on this beloved bourbon.

The 2022 release has an MSRP of $149.99... however, the sweepstakes price is listed at $169.99. It contains the following tasting notes:

Nose: Begins with caramelized orange peel and cherry fruit softened with vanilla bean, graham cracker atop rich layers of toasted and charred oak brightened with a touch of cedar

Taste: Subtle fruit flavor transitions into sweet roasted coffee with hints of dark chocolate and a dash of cocoa with toasted and charred seasoned oak character

Finish: Smooth and light with velvety coffee and mocha notes with lingering dark chocolate character

Sweepstakes Information

You can enter the sweepstakes here. Typical rules apply... 

  • You must be 21+ to enter.
  • Prize is the opportunity to purchase one (1) bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2022. Prize must be collected at the Old Forester Distillery in Louisville, KY during September 8, 2022 through December 23, 2022.
  • Individuals may register for the sweepstakes during August 24, 2022 at 9 AM ET through 11:59 PM ET on August 31, 2022 by submitting their information in the form below.
  • Potential winners will be notified by email on or about September 2, 2022.
  • Prize will be available to be collected during regular business hours at the Old Forester Distillery Gift Shop, in Louisville KY from September 8, 2022, through December 23, 2022.

Note: Because of the new policy, no Birthday Bourbon bottles will be sold at the distillery on September 2.

My Take

Birthday Bourbon is some of the most sought after bourbon available. I love that they're making it a sweepstakes instead of selling to the people who camp out for days to buy a bottle that they can resell for 3x what they paid. If you can make it to the distillery to pick it up if you win, this is a no-brainer to enter. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comments below. 


Source: Brown-Forman

OHLQ Announces Expensive Bourbon Lottery Winners

The Ohio Department of Liquor has posted the results of the 2021 Expensive Bourbon lottery (OFC Bourbon 1993 ($2,499.98 plus tax), Double Eagle Very Rare ($2,000 plus tax), Michter’s 25 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($1,000 plus tax), King of Kentucky…

The Ohio Department of Liquor has posted the results of the 2021 Expensive Bourbon lottery (OFC Bourbon 1993 ($2,499.98 plus tax), Double Eagle Very Rare ($2,000 plus tax), Michter's 25 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($1,000 plus tax), King of Kentucky ($249.98 plus tax), Old Forester Birthday ($149.98 plus tax). 

Once again, there were zero Mark R.'s who won, keeping my lifetime losing streak intact. 

For this lottery, the entrants could pick and choose which bottles they were interested in... the breakdown is as follows:

1601 OFC Bourbon 1993

Entries: 45,310
Bottles Available: 13
Odds of winning - 0.029% ~ 1 in 3400 chance

2779B Double Eagle Very Rare

Entries: 49,062
Bottles Available: 2
Odds of winning - 0.004% ~ 1 in 24,500 chance

5417B King of Kentucky

Entries: 54,157
Bottles Available: 72
Odds of winning - 0.031% ~ 1 in 3200 chance

6572B Michter's 25 Yr Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Entries: 48,475
Bottles Available: 1
Odds of winning - 0.002% ~ 1 in 48,475 chance

6920B Old Forester Birthday

Entries: 59,320
Bottles Available: 396
Odds of winning - 0.668% ~ 1 in 150 chance

Some of my favorite winners....
  • Amberly Z. 1208132
  • Court Ey K. 1197094
  • Nathanael C. 1213623
  • Rachael S. 1218102 

Congrats to all the winners. To see the entire list, click here. 

OHLQ Lottery for Expensive Bourbon is Live – Enter at Link Below

The latest 2021 Ohio Department of Liquor (OHLQ) lottery is live, kicking off today (November 8) and running through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 15th. You can enter at this site. In order to enter, you’ll need to provide the following…

The latest 2021 Ohio Department of Liquor (OHLQ) lottery is live, kicking off today (November 8) and running through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 15th. 

You can enter at this site. In order to enter, you'll need to provide the following:
  • Ohio Driver's License Number / Ohio Identification Card Number
  • First Name
  • Last Name
  • Street Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Preferred OHLQ store location for purchasing the product if you win
The prices are:
  • OFC Bourbon 1993 ($2,499.98 plus tax)
  • Double Eagle Very Rare ($2,000 plus tax)
  • Michter's 25 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($1,000 plus tax)
  • King of Kentucky ($249.98 plus tax) 
  • Old Forester Birthday ($149.98 plus tax)

Yet another lottery with bottles the average person doesn't care about. The only bottle I would buy is the Old Forester Birthday so that'll be my only entry. As for the other, the only reason I could see to buy any of the $1000+ bottles is to resell (which is illegal in Ohio). A quick search shows the Michter's being sold online for $7999. 

In a separate note, I'm starting to have concerns on the validity of these lotteries. The State has so far refused to release any details on the October lottery and there have been some near mathematical impossibilities of multiple people winning twice in the same lottery... Combine that with the rumored leaks coming out of OHLQ of when and where bottles will be released to... it certainly raises some eyebrows. 


Source: OHLQ