Old Forester has launched the Tribute Series, a new annual ultra-premium bourbon release that debuts with a 12-year-old expression bottled at 115 proof. The Brown-Forman-owned brand will release the 2026 edition in limited quantities at select U.S. retailers from today (October 15), priced at $299.99 (£226 / ₹28,500).
The series celebrates the brand’s “legacy of firsts” and its mid-century decanter designs.
Old Forester calls the release “the pinnacle of the brand’s craft.” The liquid comes in a new collectible bottle inspired by the brand’s historic holiday decanter collection.
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“The Tribute Series celebrates the craftsmanship and innovation that has defined Old Forester for generations,” said Caleb Trigo, 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.”
The brand batches its highest age-stated stock for the series. It does not rely on single-barrel or single-lot selections.
Each edition will be bottled between 110 and 125 proof. Old Forester describes this range as “the optimal proof.”
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READ THE STORYAccording to the brand, each release will deliver “a rich profile that sets a new standard for high-aged bourbon.” The official notes from the brand cite aromas of warm caramel, sweet leather, golden raisins and dark cherries. Cherry and candied walnuts lead on the palate, followed by sweet cinnamon and cardamom. A long finish brings toasted oak, peppercorn, cherry preserves and black tea.
Old Forester first launched its decanter series in 1950. Between 1954 and 1969, the brand released annual holiday decanters with mid-century designs. The new bottle reinterprets that heritage. It has an architectural glass shape with vertical facets and metallic accents.
A heavy metallic stopper carries an engraving of Old Forester’s historic quality statement.
The brand said the series pairs “exceptional whisky and Old Forester’s historic eye for distinctive packaging.” It aims to create “a meaningful, modern collectible designed to be as memorable as the bourbon it holds.”
Pharmacist George Garvin Brown founded Old Forester in Louisville in 1870. It was the first bourbon sold only in sealed bottles, which is the basis for its “America’s First Bottled Bourbon” claim.
Brown’s company became Brown-Forman, which still owns the brand. The group’s portfolio also includes Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve and Herradura.
Old Forester’s existing range includes the Whiskey Row Series. That collection includes Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky, the brand’s first twice-barreled expression.
The brand also matures its whisky with a heat-cycling process, which it says shapes flavor over time.
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