It’s always been about the bottles for Old Forester.
The Kentucky whisky brand (they spell it without the “e”) was created by George Garvin Brown in 1870 and is actually known as the first bottled bourbon. In 1950, the brand launched a series of beautiful novelty holiday decanters that have since become collector’s items. Most of those decanters were designed by Raymond Loewy, who created logos and designs for companies like Shell, Exxon, TWA, Greyhound, Coca-Cola, and Lucky Strike, and even one for Air Force One. The holiday decanters were released annually through 1969.
Courtesy Source
Taking inspiration from its past, Old Forester just launched the Tribute Series, a new annual premium release. While a nod to those old decanters, the series also serves as a tribute to Old Forester’s “legacy of firsts,” which includes being the first American whiskey (or, I guess I should say “whisky”) to release a twice-barreled expression, as well as the first to heat-cycle their warehouses during the barrel maturation (during the winter, steam warms the warehouses to simulate summer conditions).
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“The Tribute Series celebrates the craftsmanship and innovation that has defined Old Forester for generations,” says Caleb Trigo, the assistant master distiller. “By bringing together some of our most mature whisky and drawing inspiration from an important chapter in our design history, we’ve created an expression that honors where Old Forester has been while showcasing what makes our whisky distinctive today.”
At a release party in New York on Thursday, I was able to try the 115-proof bourbon and check out a display of the brand’s historic collection of decanters. You can see a vintage ad for those bottles below.
Courtesy Brand
Aged for 12 years, the bourbon is certainly worthy of a sip even without the fancy bottle. You’ll find notes of caramel, dark cherries, baking spices, and toasted oak. I actually like it more than the distillery’s coveted Birthday Bourbon.
As for the design? The distillery suggests “the bespoke bottle reinterprets classic mid-century sophistication through a bold, architectural form that feels both familiar and enduringly modern.” The bottle features several vertical facets, metallic accents, and a metallic stopper engraved with Old Forester’s quality statement.
The Old Forester Tribute Series is available now in limited quantities for $300.
