Old Forester is arriving on shelves in a new shape. Its new Tribute Series, a 12 year old bourbon bottled at 115 proof, is housed in a stylish, elongated mid-century modern decanter. Available in limited quantities nationwide beginning October 15, the annual series revives a chapter of Old Forester’s history when its whiskey’s packaging was meant to be beautiful enough to earn a permanent place in the drinks cabinet.
According to Old Forester, Tribute combines older stocks through batching, rather than relying on a single barrel or single lot. "By bringing together some of our most mature whiskey 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 whiskey distinctive today,” said Caleb Trigo, Old Forester’s assistant master distiller.
That production process, higher proof, limited availability, and elegant packaging come at a substantial price: Tribute’s suggested retail price is $300. If Birthday Bourbon, Old Forester’s flagship allocated product, is any indication, expect the price to increase exponentially once Tribute hits the secondary market. Birthday Bourbon is priced at $200, though it frequently moves for $450-plus.
Tribute Series isn’t Old Forester’s most expensive whiskey. That title goes to its 150th Anniversary Brown-Forman decanter, released in 2023. A 12.5 year old bourbon, it had a scant 650 bottles produced, with only 150 bottles offered publicly for a whopping $2,500 each.
According to the distillery, the Tribute Series “opens with aromas of warm caramel, sweet leather, golden raisins, and dark cherries. On the palate, cherry and candied walnuts evolve into sweet cinnamon and cardamom, followed by a long finish of toasted oak, peppercorn, cherry preserves, and black tea.”
Decanters aren’t merely a hollow nostalgia play by the Kentucky distillery. The brand’s first upgraded containers ran from 1950 through 1953 and were designed by Ernst Spuehler. From 1954 through 1969, Raymond Loewy oversaw the design process, including that of the famous 1957 “Sputnik” model.
Tribute becomes the latest Old Forester launch this year. March saw the addition of High Angels’ Share rye to its experimental 117 Series ($65), while July’s Triple Char ($65/375 ml) became the first Old Forester expression made entirely from whiskey distilled at its Main Street facility.
For the average drinker, the immediate question is whether the $300 price tag is worth it. At $25 per year of age, it’s a considerably more expensive option than many of its 12-year counterparts. Consider Knob Creek 12, $60, which earned 95 points from us and second place in our 2020 Top 20. While Weller 12, a 91-point inclusion in our 2026 guide to 12 year old bourbons, has a $70 suggested retail price, markup puts it around $200. Still, with collector fervor showing few signs of slowing, don’t bet on Tribute Series gathering dust on a store’s shelf.