Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (2014 release) 12 year old

This whiskey’s signature over the last several years has been wood dominant with plenty of dried spice (the exception being the 2013 release which I really enjoyed—it was chock full of balancing sweetness). The 2014 release is similar to the pre-2013 releases with dried spice (cinnamon vanilla) and dried citrus on a soft bed of maple syrup caramel and honey leading to resinous oak grip on the finish. A dynamic bourbon but still leaning heavily on the oak spice.