Old Forester Debuts 12-Year Tribute Series Bourbon for $300
Artfully Bourbon / October 15, 2026The new annual collection celebrates Old Forester's history with a 115-proof bourbon and a collectible decanter inspired by its mid-century designs.
Photo Credit: Old Forester / Brown-FormanOld Forester is reviving a piece of its history with the Tribute Series, a new annual collection of premium, age-stated bourbons.
The inaugural release features a 12-year-old bourbon bottled at 115 proof and priced at $300. It comes in a spectacular decanter inspired by Old Forester's holiday bottles from the 1950s and 1960s.
The 2026 release begins hitting select retailers nationwide on October 15 in limited quantities.
What to know
The Tribute Series brings together some of Old Forester's oldest whiskey, blending mature barrels rather than relying on single-barrel selections. Each annual release will feature an age statement, with proofs ranging from 110 to 125.
The inaugural release is described as having notes of caramel, dark cherries, candied walnuts and cinnamon, followed by toasted oak, peppercorn and black tea.
2026 Release Details
- Whiskey: Old Forester Tribute Series 2026
- Classification: Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Age: 12 Years
- Proof: 115 (57.5% ABV)
- Mash Bill: 72% Corn, 18% Rye, 10% Malted Barley
- Distillery: Old Forester, Louisville, Kentucky
- MSRP: $300
- Release: Limited Annual Release
- Availability: October 15, 2026, at select retailers nationwide
Photo Credit: Old Forester / Brown-FormanWhy it matters
Old Forester has a long history of putting as much thought into its bottles as the whiskey inside them.
In 1950, the distillery introduced its first decorative holiday decanter, followed by annual releases from 1954 through 1969. These weren't just bottles. They were designed to be displayed and kept long after the bourbon was gone.
The Tribute Series revisits that tradition with a tall, faceted glass bottle, metallic accents and an oversized gold stopper.
Beyond the packaging, this gives Old Forester another opportunity to showcase its oldest whiskey through an annual release. And unlike some limited editions, the Tribute Series is designed to evolve each year with different ages and proofs.
The AB take
We love this bottle. Seriously. The throwback to Old Forester's original holiday decanters is a great idea, and the execution is fantastic. It's refreshing to see a distillery celebrate its history through something other than another label variation.
The bourbon sounds pretty interesting, too. Twelve years at 115 proof is right in our wheelhouse.
But $300 is a tough sell. That's a lot of money for a 12-year-old bourbon, regardless of how good the bottle looks.
We're definitely interested in trying this one. And if the whiskey lives up to the presentation, Old Forester might have something special on its hands.
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