Spicy and slightly dry. A bit less complex than I personally like. Price is moderate to high for what it is,. But good bourbon of any variety is getting harder to find!
Notes: Old Fitzgerald is an older brand by bourbon standards, Old Fitzgerald was acquired by Heaven Hill in 1999 to add to their stable of already very solid to great brands. Heaven Hill itself dates back to 1932 and the repeal of Prohibition.
Some of their many other brands and line extension include Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, and Parker’s Heritage Collection.
This is a Bottled In Bond bottling of bourbon that is eight years old (making it a mid to older release of this series) and uses wheat in the mash bill to reduce the spiciness that a heavy rye version of bourbon can have.
This version was made. Pulled from multiple barrels from 3 different warehouses and floors from these warehouses, pulled from two different production dates. The seal on the bottle will tell you what those dates are. It is the 7th release of this particular bourbon nationally. Allocated and already probably hunted to extinction except for the outer provinces.
Appearance: Honey yellow with some red notes to it, On swirling it leaves a nice oily ( if not overly thick ) coat on the glass.Clear, honeyed appearance overall.
First Impression: Corn, whispers of wheat and barley malt, sweet, slightly fatty notes with spice and suggestions of persimmon and dark fruits.
Taste: Corn, wheat, barley on a nic succession of grains, with a medium body semi-sweet with a nice oily entry. It coats the tongue delivers a sweet grain malt with a spiciness then retreats to leave a pleasant glow and slightly long finish.
Drinks: Makes for a great Manhattan, whiskey sour, and other classics. A bit lighter and drier than some other bourbons so some adjustments on other mixers might be in order.
Bottle: Did not receive production bottle so cannot comment.
Other: Goes well with a lighter cigar, say a corona or smaller Ashton.
Final Thoughts: A delicate but spicy expression of a bourbon. While I like it somewhat, it is a bit light in the body and not as complex in a deeper way. Plenty of spice and pepper for those who like that.
Website: HeavenHilldistillery.com This is a direct link to the Old Fitzgerald pages. If you back up you can see all their brands – which are quite a few!
Both this link and the other pages have a plethora of information and photos. Well laid out and fast loading, Heaven Hill has one of the easier to navigate and visually pleasing websites in the industry.
