# Old Forester Birthday Bourbon finds its form again

> The fall unicorn that got forgotten is back, and the 2026 bottle is the best one in years.
- Title: Old Forester Birthday Bourbon finds its form again | Shortify
- Summary: The fall unicorn that got forgotten is back, and the 2026 bottle is the best one in years. Birthday Bourbon lost the hype race to Pappy and BTAC, but the…
- Keywords: bourbon, whiskey, old forester, spirits, collecting, Old, Forester, Birthday, finds, form, again, Robb Report
- Source: Robb Report — https://robbreport.com/food-drink/spirits/whiskey-reeview-old-forester-birthday-bourbon-1238635367
- Author: Jonah Flicker
- Published: 2026-09-13T17:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: bourbon, whiskey, old forester, spirits, collecting
## Unicorn season starts now
Autumn does more than drop leaves. It is also when bourbon's hardest to find bottles land, and the hunt begins all over again.

> this is the time of year when some of the most highly collectible unicorns of the bourbon world also appear
## The annual Old Forester drop
Birthday Bourbon comes once a year from Old Forester, which is exactly why it sits on the chase list every fall.
## Outshined by bigger names
BTAC, Pappy Van Winkle and Four Roses have soaked up the attention lately, pushing Birthday Bourbon out of the spotlight.

> this annual release seems to have been overshadowed by other brands like BTAC, Pappy Van Winkle, and Four Roses in recent years
## The 2026 bottle delivers
This year's release is a return to form for the line, and critic Jonah Flicker rates it among the strongest editions in years.

> this year's edition is one of the best in recent memory
## Hype is not the point
Collector buzz drifts toward whichever label is loudest. What is in the glass this year says Birthday Bourbon deserves a second look.
## Key takeaway

Birthday Bourbon lost the hype race to Pappy and BTAC, but the 2026 release is worth chasing on the strength of the whiskey itself.