Sometimes we don't appreciate the benefits of living so close to Kentucky. While Tennessee makes some fine whiskey, no state can match our neighbors to the north for sheer variety of quality brown liquor. As a bonus, Nashville is often one of the few markets to receive an allocation of the limited releases of special whiskeys.

Old Forester is one of the distilleries that grace Music City with their special releases, and two new products should soon make appearances (albeit briefly) on local liquor store shelves soon. The first is the latest iteration of their popular "Birthday Bourbon" series, established to commemorate the birthday of George Garvin Brown, the founder of Louisville-based Brown-Forman and Old Forester. Here's how the company describes this year's gift to the drinking public:

Selected from a single day of production and handcrafted by Master Distiller Chris Morris, this limited edition small batch bourbon is vintage-dated — offering a one-of-a-kind character and flavor profile that will never be replicated. Its unique decanter-style glass bottle is a throwback to the late 1800s when Old Forester was first produced. Each bottle features the founder’s signature and the dates on which the bourbon was barreled and bottled. Available starting in September, the 2014 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon will have a suggested retail price of $59.99 and will be sold at most liquor stores nationwide. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is bottled at 97 proof. “This year’s selection evokes a creamy, soft vanilla bean character with flavors of cinnamon spice, maple syrup and citrus,” said Morris. “The complex flavor and warm finish with just a hint of sweetness make this year’s batch a must-have release.”

It'll come and go quickly, so keep your eyes peeled. The second release is another historical reference to George Garvin Brown, this time to his practices as one of the premier (and premiere) blenders of whiskeys in the 19th century. Brown-Forman has maintained some sort of presence on Louisville's Whiskey Row since 1870, back when present day Main Street was still River Street, with warehouses full of whiskey strategically positioned to be loaded on steamships to travel the country.

George Garvin Brown used to buy whiskey from several different manufacturers and then blend them to create a consistent flavor profile for his own product. His personal guarantee of quality printed in his own handwriting still appears on every bottle of Old Forester.

In honor of Brown's talents, Chris Morris and his master taster Marianne Barnes have selected specific barrels from three different warehouses that have unique production dates and barrel entry proofs to blend for a new release they are calling Old Forester 1870 Original Batch.

This new expression of Old Forester will be a limited release, but Brown-Forman intends for it to be a permanent part of their product line. They also already have other new lines of spirits in the works that will represent other historic epochs and locations throughout the company’s history.

In the meantime, look for Old Forester 1870 Original Batch, since Nashville is one of only a few cities to receive an allocation.