LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Old Forester is taking bourbon culture beyond the bottle with a new collaboration that combines Kentucky whiskey heritage with classic American military-inspired workwear.
Old Forester and Alpha Industries have unveiled a limited-edition Distiller’s Jacket inspired by the history, materials and craftsmanship surrounding bourbon production. The collaboration marks the first time the two heritage brands have worked together and coincides with the annual release of one of Old Forester’s most anticipated whiskeys — Birthday Bourbon.
The Old Forester x Alpha Industries Distiller’s Jacket takes its inspiration from what a distiller might wear while working inside a Kentucky bourbon warehouse, combining elements from Alpha Industries’ military archives with details connected to Old Forester’s more than 150 years of whiskey making.
Built around Alpha Industries’ N-1 deck-jacket silhouette, the piece features cotton construction, a dark brown corduroy collar and a garment-washed finish intended to reflect the textures and character associated with bourbon production and maturation.
The jacket also includes distressed hardware, custom Old Forester woven labels, a removable sleeve patch, a custom debossed flight ribbon and interior artwork.
“Craftsmanship has been at the core of Old Forester for more than 150 years, so partnering with Alpha Industries, a brand with its own deep tradition of craftsmanship, is a natural fit,” said Caleb Trigo, assistant master distiller at Old Forester.
“Debuting this year’s Birthday Bourbon along with this special jacket feels like a perfect way to honor the philosophy that has defined our bourbon since 1870 and Alpha Industries’ shared American heritage.”
The collaboration arrives during an important time of year for Old Forester fans.
Birthday Bourbon is released annually in recognition of the Sept. 2 birthday of Old Forester founder George Garvin Brown. Since its introduction in 2002, the annual expression has become one of the distillery’s most collectible releases and is closely watched by bourbon enthusiasts each fall.
The 2026 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is an 11-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 97 proof.
The whiskey was drawn from 212 barrels matured on the third floor of Warehouse B, the oldest warehouse at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Shively.
The barrels were selected by Old Forester Master Distiller Emeritus Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Caleb Trigo.
Old Forester describes the 2026 release as having a sweet and fruit-forward profile. The aroma offers baking spice, ginger, vanilla bean, honey, malted graham cracker and cherry.
On the palate, the bourbon delivers warm honey and buttery caramel alongside tobacco, herbal notes and bright cherry. The finish moves toward toasted oak, graham cracker and lingering herbal mint.
Each bottle carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $199.99 and will be available in limited quantities at select retailers nationwide.
For collectors, Birthday Bourbon’s combination of an annual release, limited availability and changing age and proof specifications has helped make each edition a snapshot of Old Forester’s whiskey stocks and maturation program.
The Alpha Industries collaboration extends that collector mentality into bourbon-related apparel.
“Old Forester and Alpha come from very different worlds, but there’s a shared philosophy behind the two brands,” said Matt Pantoja, chief brand officer at Alpha Industries. “Both were built around products that had to deliver on quality, function and longevity.”
“We wanted the jacket to reflect that — not simply put two names together, but create something that feels authentic to both histories and gets better with age and wear.”
The Old Forester x Alpha Industries Distiller’s Jacket will retail for $250 and will be released Sept. 10 in limited quantities through Alpha Industries’ New York City stores and website.
The pairing of a collectible jacket with Birthday Bourbon also reflects how Kentucky bourbon brands increasingly extend their identities beyond whiskey itself. Apparel, glassware, culinary collaborations, tourism experiences and other lifestyle products have become part of the broader culture surrounding American whiskey.
In this case, Old Forester and Alpha Industries have created a piece designed to evoke the working side of bourbon rather than simply putting a whiskey logo on traditional merchandise.
And for serious Old Forester fans who manage to land both, the jacket may prove considerably easier to acquire than a bottle of Birthday Bourbon.
About Old Forester Bourbon:
Old Forester is Brown-Forman’s founding brand, founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown. Brown believed Old Forester was so pure and consistent that he sealed it, signed it, and pledged, “There is nothing better in the market.”
About Alpha Industries:
Founded in 1959 in Knoxville, Tennessee, Alpha Industries began as a contractor manufacturing technical outerwear for the U.S. military. For more than six decades, the brand has evolved from military supplier to global lifestyle brand while remaining rooted in the functional design, durability and authenticity of its original garments. Alpha’s iconic silhouettes—including the MA-1 flight jacket, M-65 field coat and N-2B parka—have moved from military service into music, fashion and global culture, where generations of wearers have adopted and reinterpreted them as their own. Today, Alpha Industries continues to evolve its military heritage through contemporary collections and collaborations across fashion, art, music and entertainment.
