Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2019

The nose is quite distinct, almost like a perfume made from raisins and vanilla. I haven't encountered this aroma in many bourbons, and I find myself compelled just to smell it, intrigued! I do detect a hint of cookie dough, similar to the standard Old Forester line, which has a somewhat artificial sugar cookie flavor with frosting notes one might find at a grocery store. The aroma also suggests a touch of barrel char and smoke, or perhaps it's because I didn't thoroughly clean my Glencairn after sampling Amrut yesterday. I'm not entirely certain, but I believe I did a decent job cleaning. The palate should present more notes right away; I'm immediately met with citrus, lots of citrus, and barrel char. My first reaction is, 'Damn, I need to get another one of these!' It delivers all the oak spice promised, with abundant orange citrus zest and a pleasant oaky, tannic profile with a citrusy character, yet it's not overly bitter or tannic. The finish echoes the palate, and I'm here contemplating whether I should spend the money people are asking on the secondary market for another bottle... Overall, I would rate this a 95/100, which, if my current scoring is accurate, is the highest so far! I've sampled many highly sought-after bourbons and ryes, yet this has surpassed them all. I regret that I'll likely spend around $300 when my stimulus check arrives, but it's worth it! A phenomenal pour and an outstanding job by the producers! It's the best OFBB I've ever tried!

Aroma: Cornbread; maple syrup; honey; cinnamon sugar; toasted oak; bananas. Taste: maple syrup; caramel; cherries; honey; sweetened black tea; rye spice. Finish: A long, chewy, and drying finish; caramel; black pepper spice; honey. This is the first birthday bourbon where I can detect the heat. Still, it's delicious. The aroma has a remarkable cornbread and honey note. The palate is sweet and tasty, though the rye spice becomes dominant at times. The finish is long, drying, and chewy simultaneously, with a hint of honey, caramel, and black pepper. It's enjoyable, but not my top birthday bourbon choice. I'd still order it at a bar or buy a bottle at retail price any day. EDIT: Tasted again in 2020. This is incredible. Increasing the rating from 4.5 to 5 stars. Amazing. The aroma has so many tropical fruits, and the palate is divine. An absolute delight to drink.

The nose is the most classic bourbon aroma I believe I've ever encountered. It's brown sugar and toasted caramel and cinnamon and fresh leather with a wisp of smoke. It tastes like it has some proof to it, but with a ton of flavor and complexity. Worn leather and a bit of mustiness like I’m standing in a rickhouse. There’s a foundation of caramelized sugars and the smoke left over from extinguishing a candle. A tiny bit of spice on the front does not linger past the throat, and it finishes shockingly smooth. Medium long flavor on the finish with most of the smoke and leather coming through. This is a perfect example of what bourbon should be. Really love this.

I really didn't want to enjoy this! Previously, I preferred the 1920 over the Birthday Bourbon, which made me uninterested in trying this. Well, I'm not sure if it's the 2019 or what, but this is some fantastic stuff! A pleasant aroma. A tasty palate....and a lingering sweetness at the end. It has everything you could want in a bourbon; the proof is a bit low but it fills the mouth.

A robust body, with a scent of corn and oak. It coats the mouth well, offering sweet caramel, fig, raisin, vanilla, a touch of spice, truly an incredible sip. Revisited on 15Mar24: Nose: sweet corn, marshmallow, some vanilla. Taste: marshmallow upfront, more malt character, some licorice candy on the finish. Subtle oak in the aftertaste.

Smells of brown sugar, herbs, caramel, and leather. The taste starts a little intense if you haven't eaten recently. Notes of molasses, oak, tobacco, and a damp forest floor. If this is the first thing you drink today, expect your mouth to tingle. It's tasty.