1996 Old Forester "Barrel Reserve 96 - Olympic Games Commemorative Bottle" Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (1L)

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$500.00

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Stephanie Manning

Review Date: July 2026

Living in Kentucky, my familiarity with Old Forester runs deep. It only takes one sip—or even one sniff—to know it’s that particular dram beloved by local Louisvillians. That’s why encountering a rare Old Forester release such as this one is such a profound treat; Brown Forman’s bottling for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta is unique across the board. Released as a duty-free exclusive, this bottling was not officially licensed by the Olympic committee, and therefore does not say “Olympics”, “Atlanta”, or even “1996” on the bottle. Also strange, a decision was made to drop the classic “Old” from the brand name itself. Distilled during the distillery’s lean years and bottled right between their flagship products at 96 proof, the whiskey is at least 12 years old (though infuriatingly, the bottle doesn’t mention this either!) Despite these oddities, this bourbon holds its head high among the classic double-digit Old Forester releases such as Birthday Bourbon, which surfaced over 7 years later. The nose is lighter than expected, with notes of citrus, antique furniture, and green apple, with something slightly herbaceous, like the scent of a tomato leaf. The first sip ushers in that classic Old Forester cherry with an initial sweetness that quickly turns into graceful dry spice on the palate. Baking spice meets a wide range of fruit here, with orange oil accompanying fig, roasted walnut, and cinnamon. The finish is beautifully long and rich, ripe with caramel sweetness; reminds me of an old-timey candy shop with a faded hint of tobacco still in the air. Overall, it is remarkedly balanced; neither the proof nor the oak hits you over the head. Clean and classic, this bourbon is an easy sipper, with the time spent in oak leaning more towards elegance than boldness. These bottles are some of the few left in circulation, and were sourced directly from a long-time employee of Brown Forman in Kentucky. It is truly a whiskey from a bygone era; one that has slipped through the cracks and onto our shelves.

Notes

Old Forester's modern limited-edition culture did not start with Birthday Bourbon, and this remarkable 1996 Olympic Barrel Reserve is one of the great reminders. Distilled in 1984 and bottled in 1996 at 48% ABV in the old 100cl travel-retail format, it was created to commemorate the Atlanta Centennial Olympic Games, the first Summer Games held 100 years after Athens 1896. That places it in a fascinating moment for American whiskey: bourbon was still fighting its way back from the long slump, dusty-era stocks were real, age statements were not marketing theater, and Old Forester was still leaning on the credibility that made it famous in the first place. George Garvin Brown created Old Forester in Louisville in 1870 as the first bourbon sold exclusively in sealed glass bottles, each bearing his personal guarantee, and the brand remains the only bourbon continuously sold by the same company before, during, and after Prohibition. This bottle connects that uninterrupted lineage to one of the great commercial spectacles of the 1990s. It is not just an old collectible with Olympic packaging. It is mature Brown-Forman bourbon from a period collectors now chase with increasing urgency: full-bodied, higher proof than standard Old Forester, and bottled before today's frenzy for annual limited releases. A true time capsule from one of Kentucky's most important houses.

Details

Type	Bourbon and Rye
Varietal	Bourbon
Origin	Kentucky, United States
Bottle Size	1 L
Alcohol Content	48%
SKU	1999158