In the mid-1800’s George Garvin Brown worked as a pharmaceutical rep, Brown noticed that doctors were consistently complaining about the unreliable quality of current medical whiskies. Medicinal Whiskey was very much an essential tool for doctors. That led Brown to create his Whiskey in 1870, a blend of whiskey from three different local distilleries. Brown’s Whiskey was the first American Whiskey to be sold commercially in individually packaged and sealed bottles to ensure consumers of its quality. The trademarked phrase, “The First Bottled Bourbon,” still appears on each bottle of Old Forester.

Dr. William Forrester, spelled with two Rs, was a well-known doctor in Louisville that allowed his name to be used on the label to signify the Whiskey’s consistency and quality. When Dr. Forrester retired, the second R was dropped from the brand’s name, and Old Forester, spelled with one R, is still spelled the same way today.

Old Forester’s other significant claim to fame is being one of 6 Kentucky distilleries to legally produce Whiskey under a medicinal license during the thirteen years of Prohibition.  Before Prohibition, the US had over 8000 distilleries! 183 in Kentucky alone.

During Prohibition, all whiskeys had to be bottled at 100 Proof. With a barrel entry proof of 100, the “angel’s share” would have created a 115 proof whiskey after maturation. To pay homage to this era, Old Forester presents 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon at 115 proof to represent the rich flavor profile this bourbon had nearly 100 years ago.

Brown-Forman is the only one of those six companies that still exist today, and there is still a member of the Brown family leading the organization. Old Forester remains the only bourbon brand continuously sold by the same company, before, during, and after Prohibition. They also own and operate their own cooperage. This dates back to 1945 when they purchased a furniture company and created the Bluegrass Cooperage to make custom bourbon barrels. The first barrel was produced in 1946, and the company is now the Brown-Forman Cooperage. It is the company’s goal to own the entire whiskey-making process from distillation, maturation to bottling. The Distillery is on historic whiskey row in downtown Louisville is a $45 million, 70,000 square foot, fully operational and active distillery.  They also own Jack Daniels and Woodford Reserve.