About Old Forester
In 1870, George Garvin Brown created Old Forester on Louisville's famous Whiskey Row at 322 W. Main Street. Old Forester was America’s First Bottled Bourbon – the first bourbon to be sold in sealed glass bottles instead of barrels, to ensure consistent quality. It took until the U.S. Bottled in Bond Act of 1897 for U.S. government regulations to catch up, when sealed bottles became a requirement. One of America’s founding bourbons, Old Forester continued to thrive until 1920, when Prohibition began.
Many distilleries were closed, but fortunately, Brown-Forman applied for and received a license from the U.S. government to continue producing Old Forester for medicinal purposes. When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, Old Forester became the only remaining bourbon continuously sold by the same company before, during, and after Prohibition. Today, the Old Forester brand and its many expressions are prized by bartenders and consumers alike for their authentic bourbon taste.
