OLD FORESTER TRIBUTE SERIES 2026 RELEASE
KENTUCKY, USA
The debut release of an exciting new series from the great Old Forester, maker of America’s first bottled bourbon, The Tribute Series 2026 comes in older and stronger than any of the house's flagships this year: a 12-year age statement, and bottled at an emphatic 115 proof. And it's dressed for the special occasion, too, in a bespoke decanter, full of subtle details. First editions of any kind are always prized, and this beautiful, powerful bottling is destined to be a sought-after collectible. Don’t miss this one, folks.
Allow it a moment to breathe, then give it a nosing and let the fun begin. First to show up is the caramel, rich and almost creamy, followed in short order by hints of leather and dried dark fruit. On the palate, it opens out into a parade of notes, from cherry cola to candied walnuts, with cinnamon calling from the background and a touch of cardamom around the edges. The finish will have you coming back to it in memory, long after you’ve put the stopper back on the bottle: a gorgeous, slow unfolding movement of toasted oak, cracked peppercorn, and black tea. A bourbon to linger over. A bourbon to exult in.
THE METHOD:
Old Forester heat-cycles its warehouses, raising the temperature through the colder months to keep the whiskey moving in and out of the wood. It’s this environment that shapes everything they produce. For Tribute, the team opted to avoid using single-barrel and single-lot selections and instead created a special blend from its oldest age-stated stock. When it came time to pick the proof, they aimed for a window between 110 and 125 and settled on 115.
Standard Old Forester limited editions come in classic glass bottles. Tribute is a departure, arriving in a bespoke conversation piece of a decanter. This is a format the house has typically gone to only for very rare releases.
No other bourbon distillery in the world can claim what Old Forester can. It's the only bourbon in the country that's been continuously sold by the same company before, during (yes, Old Forester produced "medicinal" whiskey), and after Prohibition. That’s a 156-year run that is the very definition of the word legacy. What makes Old Forester so consistently rewarding comes down to their house philosophy: they've never followed trends or tried to reinvent the idiom, but have simply kept their heads down and worked tirelessly to perfect it, in rich, fruit-forward expressions that combine structure, power, and elegance like few producers can. Sometimes, as Old Forester knows, and has tried to teach us all, the best innovation is simply refusing to screw up a good thing.
Ordinarily, a glass of bourbon is a solo act, but the caramel, cola, and spice notes make this a fine match with a smoked Texas brisket, a wedge of aged Gouda, or a slice of dark chocolate cake.
57.5% (115 proof).
Old Forester is no stranger to decorative decanters. In 1950, it released the first one in the bourbon business, and for the next two decades put out a new holiday decanter every year. The idea was a gift that would outlive the whiskey inside it. Mission accomplished.
As always, we only buy and source directly from the distillery to ensure that your bourbon arrives as it should: with pristine provenance guaranteed. Allocations of this first Tribute release are limited, so secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2026 (Dec. 21st - Mar. 20th, 2027). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in FL and TX. This offer will expire on Sunday, October 18th, 2025.