Hi Allen,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Forbes magazine noted that "Old Forester President’s Choice is one of Brown-Forman’s rarest and most prestigious bourbon offerings, directly tied to the history and legacy of the Old Forester brand. It began as a tradition in 1964, when then-Brown-Forman president George Garvin Brown II personally selected single barrels of exceptional whiskey—originally for VIPs and dignitaries—each uniquely expressive and bottled at barrel proof."

Beginning in the mid-1940s, long before single-barrel, barrel-strength bourbon became customary, the Brown-Forman Corp. offered President’s Choice 8-year old bourbon to friends and close associates. The name is literal – the company’s president, beginning with George Garvin Brown, personally selected the barrels, then had labels printed with the recipient’s name on it.

Additionally, the company has acknowledged that, because each bottle comes from a single cask, no two expressions are exactly alike and releases are very limited. This makes them highly collectible and sought after by bourbon enthusiasts.

This and all other bottles used are 4/5-quart, not one-quart (see the raised wording along the bottom edge). Sotheby's sold a bottle of 90.3 proof for $2,375 in June 2025; six months prior, it sold a bottle of 118.6 proof for $3,000. In both instances, the presale estimate had been $2,500-3,500. Skinner got $3,500 for a 56.4% proof bottle in February 2025 while a 55.25% proof bottle from 1969 realized $6,875 in 2023.

If you're looking to sell this, I recommend finding an auction house that has a dedicated wine/whiskey department

While this is generally considered a rare spirit, one can find it for sale online with a $4,500 retail price.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage Brown Forman President's Choice Bourbon
Barrel# 178776 , Barrel Proof 114.4
Bottle Stamp # on neck 319530999
given to Dr Alton Ochsner
4/5-quart
CONDITION: Unopened
PROVENANCE: Inherited
$ 3,000-5,000*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia