Is Birthday Bourbon Worth the Hype? A Bourbon Heritage Month Review | Five Minute Friday's

It's Bourbon Heritage Month, and on this episode of Five Minute Fridays, Jake goes straight to where it all started: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, one of the most talked-about — and most divisive — releases in the bourbon world. This year's edition lands at 11 years old and 97 proof, released earlier this month.

Fresh off Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Jake sits down (with a little personal timing — his daughter's birthday is just days away) to break down the nose, palate, and finish of this year's Birthday Bourbon, compare it to Old Forester's recent "Kentucky Boy" release, and explain why he thinks this might be one of the best versions of Birthday Bourbon he's tasted yet.

In this episode:

• Why Birthday Bourbon is one of the most controversial releases on the market
• Tasting notes: burnt sugar, crème brûlée, brown sugar, caramel, French vanilla custard, tobacco, and cherry cordial
• How this year's release compares to Old Forester's "Kentucky Boy"
• Why Jake thinks Old Forester and Brown-Forman are "on a heater" right now
• The team behind the blend — Caleb, Melissa, and Chris
• Final verdict: would Jake buy it at SRP?

Approximate Timestamps

• 0:00 – Intro: Bourbon Heritage Month & Birthday Bourbon's controversial reputation
• 0:58 – This year's release: 11 years old, 97 proof
• 1:29 – Why today's tasting is personal (daughter's birthday)
• 2:11 – Nose: burnt sugar, crème brûlée, caramel, French vanilla, baking spice, tobacco
• 2:49 – On the 97 proof and the blending conversation from Kentucky Bourbon Festival
• 3:36 – Palate: oak, tannin, brown sugar, caramel
• 4:21 – Finish: tobacco, cherry cordial
• 4:58 – Comparison to Old Forester's "Kentucky Boy"
• 5:38 – Final verdict and the team behind the blend