Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2021

I've sought one of these for years without success or willingness to wait in line for hours. With rising prices and fading hopes, I was ready to abandon the search, and then one day it appeared unexpectedly (actually, it arrived on a delivery truck with two other bottles that also sold out immediately). Serendipity – and even more reason to celebrate, as I opened this several days later with a companion for my birthday. This could be best described as bold, yet elegantly controlled. It's like standing right at the precipice without falling over, though the ground beneath your feet crumbles slightly, reminding you of your precarious position. Rich, medium-dark amber color with a thin to medium appearance when swirled in the glass. First impressions are of smoky cherry pie, oak, and lacquer. Sweeter notes emerge, like cinnamon roll and fruitcake, with a broad spectrum of spices that I'll best guess are similar to caraway, dill, anise, and unmalted rye. There are also complex, musty undertones of old books, pipe tobacco, and tarry creosote. Aggressive swirling reveals the familiar OF banana foster and maple syrup notes. With even more resting time, bright cherry and raspberry notes surprisingly burst forth. Wow. The aroma is comparable to a certain well-known bourbon, or a funkier version of other specific bourbons, for those who have tried them. Medium mouthfeel – notes of musk, funk, oak, oak, lacquer, damp leaves, tobacco, raisins, and dried berries, with char. Towards the end, brighter fruit notes appear, but the lingering pipe tobacco funk never fades. This is very rustic and substantial. Imagine a certain widely-known bourbon, another well-regarded single malt, or even a specific Scotch whisky – and then imagine the complete opposite. While I wouldn't call it thick or syrupy, it is nonetheless substantial and somewhat weathered. Finish – notes of empty pipe tobacco, dust, cinnamon, and dried fruits. Simply outstanding. It possesses all the dark, brooding, earthy, and oak characteristics of a specific 18-year-old Scotch with the fruit and dusty funk of a certain 17-year-old bonded bourbon. I believe it has the balance of a solid single barrel offering from a particular producer, but the spice and heat are dialed back. Similar to a well-known bourbon, but instead of a face-melting intensity, it stops just short and adds a dusty/funky element to match. I truly hesitate to do this, but for a 12-year-old, 104 proof, and an improbable $135 out the door, it comes close to my ideal bourbon. The price is still higher than I'd prefer, but the only comparable spirit at that price and complexity, if you win the bourbon lottery, is that well-known bourbon. Neither is worth the inflated secondary market prices, but both are worth a $50 tasting at least once in a lifetime. This receives a probationary 5.0 from me. Here's to another year!

Acquired this today, feeling like it's my consolation prize for not getting anything great from 2021. It's not a terrible purchase, but considering what I invest and the effort I put into finding bourbon, it's a bit disheartening. Nose - Immediately evokes classic bourbons. The 12 years of age come through, presenting classic, intense, candied vanilla bourbon notes. There's a hint of putty, some shoe polish varnish, a touch of cigar ash, and dare I say, some chocolate birthday cake? Despite the relatively low proof, the alcohol feels stronger than anticipated, creating a drying sensation. After allowing the glass to sit and settle, rich, oakey caramel emerges. Towards the end, I detect dark cherries, which is interesting but not overpowering. Palate - Thinner on the palate than the nose suggests. More alcoholic astringency. It's somewhat chocolatey, with good vanilla and plenty of varnish, followed by a caramel, artificial sweetener, and oak combination on the back end. The alcohol burn persists but isn't unpleasant. The alcohol is surprisingly forward. All that said, it's a very classic bourbon with good sweetness, refined youthful elements, and good oak characteristics. And a lot of oak; I'm really struggling to describe this almost refined alcohol note that blends with the oak. Normally, you get a strong, hot alcohol note that then fades, or the alcohol even intensifies and builds on your cheeks as the oak notes arrive. It's likely I'm missing some fruit notes, but the oak and tannin/alcohol forward elements are somewhat obscuring them. I'm sure it will develop further with time, but I must say, it's good bourbon with some truly great classic notes. It saddens me that this profile, which I enjoy, has become so uncommon that I can fully understand why people queue for it. I'd rate this a 2.5, around an 86, but I could go higher on both. The nose is a solid 89 or 90, about a 4-star nose. However, the drinking experience doesn't deliver enough. I should mention that a touch of a certain spirit transforms this into a glass of lower-proof version of that spirit. It might be my secret trick! On second thought, 2.75. In a rational world, this would be a $75 bourbon readily available. Sadly, we no longer inhabit such a world.

Poured neat into a copita, this exhibits a medium gold hue. The lightness is unexpected for a 12-year-old expression. On the nose, mellow oak and sweet honey lead, followed by prominent vanilla and creme brulee. A rich sweetness persists throughout, possibly apricot jam, creating a truly pleasant aroma. On the palate, it's noticeably sweeter than the 2020 Birthday Bourbon, which was more floral and tea-like. I detect rich vanilla custard, darker fruits like cherry, and an over-ripe Italian plum reminiscent of the 2019 Birthday release. These, along with the apricot jam from the nose, carry the experience. Traditional caramel and cornflakes emerge on the finish. However, it lacks spice. Among the last four Birthday offerings, this might be the sweetest but also the best balanced for its intended profile. It excels at delivering those fuller, fruitier, bursting flavors. The finish is lengthy and sustained, with a sweet and sour sauce tanginess on the aftertaste. Oak is present in the background, noticeable but not overly drying or chewy. The juicy, fruitier notes remain prominent. The flavor lingers on the tongue long after the sip. Overall, I'm thoroughly enjoying this bottle. Having been fortunate enough to obtain a full bottle or a generous sample from someone each of the last five years, this one impresses me the most. Its sweet characteristics firmly place it in the dessert category. While some might find this excessive, I embrace it. Like many Old Forester products, the same mashbill seems to produce either very sweet, very herbal, or very spicy results. This clearly represents the pinnacle of the sweeter spectrum. Beyond the sweetness, it's well-constructed with vanilla, caramel, cornflakes, and oak. The only slight drawback for some might be its lack of spice.

Aroma - black pepper, baking spices, prominent oak, citrus, with a faint trace of honey and vanilla. The aroma is exceptional. Taste - not as powerful as the aroma suggested. Significantly more salted caramel and vanilla notes. More cinnamon bursts are present here. The oak is outstanding. However, I am somewhat surprised by the amount of alcohol that comes through. Overall, this is a fantastic bourbon, but I must admit I'm slightly underwhelmed. The alcohol's intensity masks some of this bourbon's more delicate nuances. It drinks more like something in the high 50s/low 60s proof range. There is a definite noticeable "heat" and even a slight burn with this one.

Aroma - Salted baked dulce de leche. Freshly baked bread. Light vanilla, like whipped cream. A more unique, bakery-like aroma. Taste - Amazingly sweet and fruity. Grape, apple, oak, baked bread. The same whipped cream sensation continues. After swirling it, some baked caramel appears, as if baked into a pastry. Finish - The finish isn't very long but is pleasant. The same baked bread aroma persists, like inhaling from a bakery. A touch of barrel spice, but not enough to be considered spicy. Very comforting!

Wonderful. Deep, rich, and woody. Aromas of cherries, molasses, almonds, caramel, apricots, bubble gum, cinnamon, vanilla, white chocolate, rosewater, milk chocolate, and butterscotch. Flavors include cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, licorice, root beer, dark chocolate, tobacco, maple syrup, oak, and cola cubes. The finish has notes of pecan pie, toasted marshmallows, dark chocolate, morello cherries, maple syrup, butterscotch, and spearmint.