Old Forester 2026 Birthday Bourbon 11 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 750ml

Every September, Old Forester honors founder George Garvin Brown — born September 2, 1846 — with a genuinely one-of-a-kind bourbon that can never be made again, and this year marks the 26th annual edition in that storied tradition. The 2026 release breaks genuinely new ground within the series: it's the first Birthday Bourbon ever crafted using sweet-mash fermentation, meaning no setback from a previous distillation was used — a deliberate choice Old Forester credits directly with giving this year's vintage its distinctively bright, honeyed character, a real departure from the sour-mash process used in every prior Birthday Bourbon release.

Drawn from 212 barrels aged together on the third floor of Warehouse B, Brown-Forman's oldest aging warehouse, the 2026 edition carries an 11-year age statement — genuinely on the longer-aged end of the Birthday Bourbon series — built from Old Forester's signature mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, matured in new charred American oak.

Reception has been genuinely mixed this year, and it's worth sharing honestly. Steve Coomes' review for Bourbon Banter found "classic Birthday notes of dark-charred, bourbon-soaked old oak with cocoa powder, raisin, black pepper and a whiff of Old Fo' acetone lingering in the background" on the nose, with "oak and cocoa" carrying to the palate "along with a little burnt match and campfire," developing "cigar leaf, black pepper, dried currants and dates," but found the finish "warm and pleasant, but disappears rather quickly," rating the release "Bar" and noting plainly: "Fo' fans like me are wondering what happened to the depth, complexity and heaps of cooked stone fruits that made Birthday worth celebrating and collecting." Cana Wine Company's own description takes a notably more positive view, describing "layered caramel and dark brown sugar over seasoned oak, with baking spice, dried cherry, and cocoa emerging beneath the distillery's characteristic banana-and-pound-cake fruitiness," noting that at 97 proof "the whiskey stays composed and sippable, letting the age-driven depth lead rather than heat." The official tasting notes describe "classic baking spice, notably zesty ginger with sweet vanilla bean, honey, and malted graham cracker with a hint of cherry" on the nose, developing into "warm honey and rich buttery caramel complemented with bold tobacco, herbal notes, and bright cherry character," finishing with "toasted oak with subtle notes of graham cracker and lingering herbal mint." This is genuinely limited, collector-driven whiskey — a real, never-to-be-repeated vintage marking a true production first for one of bourbon's longest-running annual traditions.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Old Forester 2026 Birthday Bourbon is produced by Old Forester Distilling Co. (Brown-Forman) in Louisville, Kentucky, the 26th annual release in the Birthday Bourbon series, created each year to honor founder George Garvin Brown. The whiskey is made from Old Forester's signature mash bill of 72% corn, 18% rye, and 10% malted barley, and is genuinely the first Birthday Bourbon ever produced using sweet-mash fermentation rather than the traditional sour-mash process, omitting setback from a prior distillation entirely.

The bourbon was barreled in 2015, aged 11 years, and drawn from a batch of 212 barrels matured together on the third floor of Warehouse B at the Brown-Forman Distillery, entered at 124.4 proof into new charred American oak. Bottled at 48.5% ABV / 97 proof, 750ml, in highly limited quantities at select US retailers.

Critics Reviews

Steve Coomes, Bourbon Banter — "Bar" rating:
"Nose: Classic Birthday notes of dark-charred, bourbon-soaked old oak with cocoa powder, raisin, black pepper and a whiff of Old Fo' acetone lingering in the background. Palate: Oak and cocoa carry to the palate along with a little burnt match and campfire. Cigar leaf, black pepper, dried currants and dates build in across the palate along with baking spice and a little cinnamon. Finish: Warm and pleasant, but disappears rather quickly. Fo' fans like me are wondering what happened to the depth, complexity and heaps of cooked stone fruits that made Birthday worth celebrating and collecting. This one is especially short on the richness and roundness found easily on the 1924."

Cana Wine Company (extended tasting note):
"In the glass, the 2026 edition leans into the mature end of the Old Forester profile: layered caramel and dark brown sugar over seasoned oak, with baking spice, dried cherry, and cocoa emerging beneath the distillery's characteristic banana-and-pound-cake fruitiness. At 97 proof, the whiskey stays composed and sippable, letting the age-driven depth lead rather than heat."

Old Forester (official tasting notes):
"Aroma: Classic baking spice, notably zesty ginger with sweet vanilla bean, honey, and malted graham cracker with a hint of cherry. Palate: Warm honey and rich buttery caramel complemented with bold tobacco, herbal notes, and bright cherry character. Finish: Toasted oak with subtle notes of graham cracker and lingering herbal mint."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Dark-charred old oak leads, with cocoa powder, raisin, and black pepper, alongside zesty ginger, vanilla bean, honey, and malted graham cracker.

Palate
Warm honey and rich buttery caramel carry the entry, developing bold tobacco, cigar leaf, dried currant, date, and bright cherry, balanced by baking spice and cinnamon.

Finish
Toasted oak closes with graham cracker and lingering herbal mint, though reviewers note the finish fades relatively quickly for the series.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Cherry or caramel-based desserts
• Grilled or smoked meats
• Dark chocolate
• Graham cracker or spiced pastries

Serving Note

Serve neat in a Glencairn glass at room temperature; a few drops of water help open the cherry and vanilla bean notes.