Old Forester: The Bourbon Sold in Sealed Bottles Since 1870
Updated: 3 days ago
Old Forester is a Kentucky straight bourbon made by Brown-Forman. It has been on the market continuously for longer than any other bourbon and was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed bottles.
In this guide
Old Forester at a glance
Brand | Old Forester |
|---|---|
Location | Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
Owner | Brown-Forman |
Introduced | 1870 by George Garvin Brown |
Whiskey | Kentucky straight bourbon |
Historic distinction | Early bourbon sold exclusively in sealed glass bottles |
Visitor site | Old Forester Distilling Co. on Whiskey Row, Louisville |
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Quick facts
Producer: Brown-Forman Corporation, still controlled by the Brown family
First bottled: 1870 by George Garvin Brown
Made at: Brown-Forman distillery in Shively, Kentucky, and Old Forester Distilling Co. on Louisville's Whisky Row
Mash bill: 72% corn, 18% rye, 10% malted barley
Master distiller named in source: Chris Morris (as of 2006)
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History
Old Forester launched in 1870 in sealed bottles, a guard against adulteration. It was sold in pharmacies as a medicinal product and endorsed by doctors. It was originally spelled Old Forrester and is reported to be named after physician Dr William Forrester.
George Garvin Brown and his half-brother J.T.S. Brown started the company, which became Brown-Forman in 1902 and has George Garvin Brown as sole owner by then. Brown initially bought whiskey from distillers such as John McDougal Atherton and Ben Mattingly and blended it, then bought Mattingly's distillery in St Mary, Marion County in 1902.
During Prohibition from 1920 to 1933 Brown-Forman held one of only six licences for medicinal whiskey. Early Times was bought in 1923 and Jack Daniel's in 1956.
Range
Bottlings include Classic (43%), Signature (50%), the Whisky Row Series (1870 Original Batch, 1897 Bottled in Bond, 1910 Old Fine Whisky, 1920 Prohibition Style), President's Choice, Statesman (47.5%) and the annual Birthday Bourbon, released since 2002. The 117 Series, High Angels' Share, was announced in 2021.
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The Whiskey Row distillery
Old Forester Distilling Co sits at 119 W. Main Street in Louisville, in the building the brand called home before Prohibition. According to Brown-Forman's 2018 announcement, it is a $45 million, 70,000 square foot distillery with a fully operational cooperage, the only one of its kind downtown. It opened to the public after a ceremonial opening on National Bourbon Day, 14 June 2018, and joined the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Brand and ownership
Old Forester is Brown-Forman's founding brand. George Garvin Brown founded it in 1870 and sealed and signed each bottle, which is why the brand calls itself America's First Bottled Bourbon. Brown-Forman still owns it. The same release says Louisville's Main Street once held 89 bourbon distilling companies, and only Brown-Forman has operated continuously to the present.
People
Chris Morris is named as Master Distiller and Jackie Zykan as Master Taster on an Old Forester release. Distillery Trail reported in July 2022 that Zykan left to join Hidden Barn Whiskey, so check the current team before publishing.
Range and strength
The label on the brand site gives Old Forester bottlings a strength range of 43 to 63.5% ABV across the straight bourbon line. Individual expression strengths were not confirmed on the pages that loaded.
Old Forester 86 Proof and 100 Proof photograph
Two genuine Old Forester Kentucky bourbon bottles photographed in December 2016, showing the 86 Proof and 100 Proof expressions. This archive photograph may differ from current label designs.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Old Forester?
Brown-Forman.
What makes it historically notable?
It was the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed bottles.
What is the mash bill?
72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley.
What is Birthday Bourbon?
An annual release since 2002, made available through a national sweepstakes.
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Sources, image credits and official links
Bottle photograph: Old Forester 86 Proof and 100 Proof. Photographer or creator: Kellibauman524. Reuse terms: CC BY-SA 4.0; the original subject has not been altered.
About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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