This Is The Oldest Bottled Bourbon Brand In America

Widely recognized as America's first bottled bourbon brand, Old Forester's history dates back to 1870. Founded in Louisville, Kentucky, by pharmaceutical salesman George Garvin Brown, the company was the first to sell its bourbon in sealed glass bottles at a time when whiskey was traded by the barrel and when doctors prescribed alcohol as a remedy. Taverns and retailers were known to alter whiskey before selling it, so sealing the bottles was an intentional packaging choice to preserve the integrity of the product. Early batches of the product were even signed by Brown, giving his personal guarantee of authenticity and quality.

Initially marketed to doctors as a medicinal product, the brand's original name, "Old Forrester," was an ode to a friend and prominent doctor, Dr. William Forrester, who endorsed the product's innovation as a sealed medicinal whiskey. When Dr. Forrester retired, the brand dropped the extra "r," changing the name to "Old Forester." The bourbon's early success also coincided with 19th-century America's growing population and a shift from imported liquors, like rum and brandy, to what could be produced locally with rye, wheat, and corn. Over 150 years later, the brand remains a fixture in American whiskey history, celebrated by a special 150th anniversary release of its rarest bourbon in 2020.

In addition to being the first bottled whiskey, Old Forester holds another claim to fame: It remained available during Prohibition, earning the title of the only bourbon producer that was continuously sold before, during, and after Prohibition and is still in business today. During Prohibition, the company was one of the few distillers that received government authorization to supply whiskey for medicinal purposes, though restrictive rules applied. Permits allowed companies to bottle existing stocks for medicinal purposes, and Old Forester sourced whiskey from shuttered distilleries to rebrand and sell, as distilling new product was prohibited at this time. Old Forester successfully sold whiskey throughout Prohibition until its repeal in 1933.

The brand celebrates its history with its collection of bourbons that sit alongside more modern releases. Referencing Brown's initial three-barrel blending approach is the 1870 Original Batch Whisky. The 1897 Bottled in Bond Whisky refers to the Bottled-in-Bond Act, which required bourbon to be bottled at 100 proof, produced in one distillery in one season, and aged for a minimum of four years. Commemorating a bottling-line fire that led to double-barreling, the 1910 Old Fine Whisky is another nod to the company's innovation and heritage. The current lineup spans 86 to 100 proof bourbons, rye whiskey, and limited releases. For sipping inspiration, here is our ranking of every Old Forester bourbon, or further explore Old Forester's place among the 14 oldest bourbon brands available in 2026.