Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2022

As someone who generally dislikes Old Forester, I was uncertain about this one and didn't anticipate enjoying it. My local bar stocks the full Old Forester range and acquired two bottles of the 2021 and 2022 birthday bourbon. I sampled the 2022, finding the $30 per pour price quite reasonable given its rarity, especially at a place within walking distance. My expectations were low. Upon the first sniff, I was impressed, thinking it smelled unlike their other products. The aroma was sweet, like caramel and sugar cookies. I was quite impressed at this point, but wondered if the taste would live up to the smell, as I've been misled before. Taking a sip, it was perhaps one of the smoothest, sweetest bourbons I've ever tasted. I'm truly amazed by its quality. Fortunately, the bartender, who knows us well from frequent visits over the past seven years, doesn't serve us standard 2-ounce pours, and I'm grateful for that, as this is exceptional stuff. I imagine readers might be skeptical, thinking it can't be that good. Believe me, it is. Just when I thought I had experienced most of what's out there and was growing weary of bourbon, this drink reinvigorated my senses with its excellent flavor. If you can get this at a reasonable price, buy it. I still don't endorse paying secondary market prices for any liquor, but I would pay double the retail price for this, just not ten times the retail price. Date: 2/14/23

Nose: A cornucopia of fruit, possibly one of the best Birthday Bourbon noses. Berries abound, with smoke, brown sugar, and maple. Very inviting! Taste: Buttery, elegant mouthfeel on entry. Oak appears subtly, followed by delicious wild berries and a hint of honey golden graham cracker. A whiskey to savor. Finish: Medium length, not very warming, but the age reveals more barrel character. A slightly off, floral note appears at the very end. Not disliked, but not preferred either; just present. Overall: Birthday Bourbon is an annual treat shared with friends. From 2015 onward, they've been inconsistent. This one is a success for me. I love the fruitiness and could appreciate the nose indefinitely. The finish was a little disappointing, but everything else was exceptional. It's not better than 2019, but it surpasses the last two. Enjoy!

So thrilled to finally open this bottle! My birthday month is approaching, so why not!? I tried it neat. The aroma is floral and fruity, with hints of cocoa, wood, toast, vanilla, caramel, fruit cobbler, orange, cheesecake, crème brûlée, candied apple, Sweetarts, and pixie dust. On the palate, it's initially dry, then toasty, with notes of wood oak, pecan, and char. This is a complex and delicious bourbon. However, I find the nose to be much more complex than the palate. I plan to add a couple drops of water during the next tasting to see what new notes emerge… exciting times ahead! P.S. Wow... the legs on this bourbon are stunning.

Like Fruit Loops! An incredible blend of red fruits and barrel char. The flavor lingers intensely and draws you back in. Few bourbons can truly capture the essence of a rickhouse with a burning flame as barrels are stored, complete with cobwebs and the scent of aged wood. And there you are, immersed in it all, softly resting with a glass of this in your hand. Quite a special bourbon, if only for the multitude of flavors it encourages the drinker to discover. I highly recommend it if you get the opportunity to sample it.

Scent of marzipan, creamy vanilla, and toffee. Palate offers hints of warm caramel and apple that evolve into baking spices. The finish is of medium length, continuing the baking spices throughout. A medium-bodied pour with rich sweetness on the nose and a pleasant finish providing some complexity. It's a good, though not exceptional, drink. The palate doesn't quite match the aroma.

Oily and pleasant on the palate. The aroma is reminiscent of a banana bread loaf fresh from the oven. The finish is quite muted without water. This bourbon definitely needs a few drops of water. Adding water reveals spice and a decent, though not outstanding, finish. Spearmint and menthol appear later. Very good, but not quite great, let alone exceptional.