Home Bourbon Old Forester 2020 Birthday Bourbon

Old Forester 2020 Birthday Bourbon

November 1, 2020 · By Matthew Evans · 9.1 / 10
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Whiskey Consensus Score
9.1 /10
Outstanding
Score Breakdown
Complexity
9
Nose
9
Palate
9
Finish
9.3
Value
9
Consensus Score
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Nose
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9.1
/ 10
Our Verdict
Outstanding

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is an annual release from Old Forester to celebrating its founder, George Garvin Brown.

The Good

  • Nose
  • Finish

The Bad

  • Availability
Old Forester 2020 Birthday Bourbon

A little background

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is an annual release from Old Forester celebrating its founder, George Garvin Brown. Birthday Bourbon is released every year on September 2nd in honor of George Garvin Brown’s birthday. The 2020 release of Birthday Bourbon is bottled at 98 proof, is made up of 95 barrels, aged 10 years, and barreled on June 5, 2010. This bourbon has an MSRP of $130.

(Tasted neat from a Glencairn Glass)

Color

Dark Copper

Nose

Cherry, saline, cinnamon, oak, and a playdough quality. More subtle scents of caramel, orange marmalade, and Grand Marnier. Very easy to nose!

Palate

The palate is intense upfront, full of cinnamon, cherry, Grand Marnier, caramel, and pancake syrup (the fake kind, not pure maple syrup). The mouthfeel on this bourbon is fantastic.

Finish

The finish is very long and complex with flavors of fudge, dusty cinnamon, and baking spice.

In closing

The 2020 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is nothing short of exceptional. The nose is quite amazing and jumps out of the glass with little effort. There is a great balance of heat on this bourbon, however, it does drink hotter than 98 proof in my opinion. This is a classic bourbon and a fantastic way to honor the birthday of George Garvin Brown.

Old Forester 2020 Birthday Bourbon

98 Proof
9.1

Complexity

9.0/10

Nose

9.0/10

Palate

9.0/10

Finish

9.3/10

Value

9.0/10

The Good

  • Nose
  • Finish

The Bad

  • Availability
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Bourbon Old Forester Review

Every bottle on Whiskey Consensus is evaluated across five categories on a 1–100 scale. The five scores are averaged to produce a final overall score out of 10.

Nose
Aroma, complexity & first impressions
Palate
Flavor, balance & mouthfeel
Finish
Length, character & quality
Complexity
Depth, layers & evolution in the glass
Value
Quality relative to retail price
Score Rating What It Means
9.5 – 10.0ExceptionalOne for the history books
9.0 – 9.4OutstandingA benchmark expression
8.5 – 8.9GreatSeek this bottle out
8.0 – 8.4Very GoodAbove average in every way
7.5 – 7.9GoodWorth your money
7.0 – 7.4Above AverageA solid everyday pour
6.5 – 6.9AverageUnremarkable but drinkable
6.0 – 6.4Below AverageHard to recommend
5.5 – 5.9Hard PassBetter options at this price
0.0 – 5.4AvoidNot worth your time or money
Matthew Evans
About the Author
Matthew Evans
Whiskey Reviewer · Whiskey Consensus  · 541 posts

Matthew is the founder and visionary behind Whiskey Consensus. What began as a project to explore the Instagram platform and share a love for whiskey has evolved into so much more. Professionally, Matthew works in digital marketing as a solutions engineer and sales leader, bringing innovative strategies to the table. Outside of work, Matthew is an avid runner, as well as a car and watch enthusiast. He is also deeply committed to giving back to the community through various volunteer responsibilities.

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