Funky aged oak | Leather | Brown sugar | Raisin | Caramel | Outstanding

Dark cherry | Brown sugar | Seasoned aged oak | Tobacco | Black pepper | Peanut brittle | Rich, classic flavors

Cinnamon | Leather | Pipe tobacco | Dry aged oak | Lingering baking spices | Long

Old Forester Tribute is a new limited edition release from Brown-Forman. Planned as an annual release, the Tribute series is intended as a “tribute to the best of Old Forester and a celebration of the brand’s legacy of firsts, from its first twice-barreled expression to the unique heat-cycled maturation that shapes its flavor over time,” according to the company. The series is slated for proofs ranging from 110-125, which the company describes as “the optimal proof,” adding, “each release will deliver a rich profile that sets a new standard for high-aged bourbon.” The bottle design is inspired by Old Forester’s historic holiday decanter collection, which was introduced in 1950, and then bottled in varying mid-century modern-inspired decanters from 1954-1969.

Tribute is a fantastic bourbon, with a rich, classic, immediately impressive flavor profile. It’s rich with oak throughout, including an inviting, funky aged oak scent on the nose, but the bourbon never enters over-oaked territory. It also runs the gamut, with savory depth, including leather, various tobacco notes, and peanut brittle, while still delivering rich, contrasting sweet flavors of brown sugar, caramel, raisin, dark cherry, and the sweet side of the peanut brittle component. A mix of spices adds life, intensifying the sipping experience to deeply satisfying results from beginning to end.

Brown-Forman has been on a tear this year, thanks in part to exceptional releases like Birthday Bourbon and King of Kentucky. Clocking in at 115 proof, Tribute falls neatly in between the two releases proof-wise. It also falls between the two on price and age for the 2026 releases, slotting in perfectly into Brown-Forman’s limited edition lineup alongside others like President’s Choice Bourbon, which is a single barrel that tends to be younger. Tribute not only bridges the gap between Birthday Bourbon and King of Kentucky, but it tempers the rough edges sometimes found in King of Kentucky and amplifies the richness of Birthday Bourbon, which can sometimes feel underproofed (and underwhelming). This happy middle ground is the sweet spot between these two high profile Brown-Forman limited edition options, and as a result, Tribute should appeal to fans of both. Combined with the throwback decanter style (which is much more shelf-friendly than Birthday Bourbon), Brown-Forman Tribute is a widely appealing ultra-premium release.