Old Forester and Alpha Industries have partnered to launch a limited-edition Distiller’s Jacket inspired by bourbon heritage and American craftsmanship. The jacket debuts on 2 September alongside Old Forester’s annual Birthday Bourbon release, which celebrates the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown.
The collaboration marks the first time the two heritage brands have worked together.
Old Forester is Brown-Forman’s founding brand and the world’s first bottled bourbon, born in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1870. Alpha Industries, founded in 1959 in Knoxville, Tennessee, began as a contractor manufacturing technical outerwear for the US military.
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The Distiller’s Jacket reimagines a classic piece of American workwear through the world of Kentucky bourbon. It is designed as a modern interpretation of what a distiller would wear on the warehouse floor.
The jacket is built on Alpha Industries’ N-1 deck-jacket silhouette. It features cotton construction, a dark brown corduroy collar and a garment-washed finish inspired by the materials and textures of bourbon making.
Additional details include distressed hardware, custom Old Forester woven labels, a removable sleeve patch, custom debossed flight ribbon and interior artwork.
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READ THE STORY“Craftsmanship has been at the core of Old Forester for more than 150 years, so partnering with Alpha Industries, a brand with its own deep tradition of craftsmanship, is a natural fit,” said Caleb Trigo, assistant master distiller at Old Forester.
“Debuting this year’s Birthday Bourbon along with this special jacket feels like a perfect way to honor the philosophy that has defined our bourbon since 1870 and Alpha Industries’ shared American heritage.”
Matt Pantoja, chief brand officer at Alpha Industries, added: “Old Forester and Alpha come from very different worlds, but there’s a shared philosophy behind the two brands. Both were built around products that had to deliver on quality, function and longevity.”
This year’s Birthday Bourbon is an 11-year-old, 97-proof expression drawn from 212 barrels on the third floor of Warehouse B at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively. It was selected by master distiller emeritus Chris Morris and Trigo.
According to the brand’s official tasting notes, the aroma offers “classic baking spice”, while the palate delivers “warm honey and rich buttery caramel”. The finish presents “toasted oak with subtle notes of graham cracker and lingering herbal mint”.
Each bottle carries a suggested retail price of $199.99 (£148) and will be available in limited quantities at select retailers nationwide.
The jacket will be available at Alpha Industries stores in New York City and online for $250 (£185) from 10 September.
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