Old Fitzgerald 14 Year Old Bottled In Bond Bourbon Review (Fall 2020)

BOTTLES DETAILS

• DISTILLER: Heaven Hill Distillery
• MASH BILL: 68% Corn | 20% Wheat | 12% Malted Barley
• AGE: 14 Years
• YEAR: 2020
• PROOF: 100 (50% ABV)
• MSRP: $140
• BUY-ONLINE: Wine-Searcher.com

STEVE'S NOTES

NOSE: Surprisingly Subdued | Roasted Pineapple | Malted Milk Balls | Wheat Bread

TASTE: Baking Spice | Oak |Candied Orange | Grassy | Medium Body Mouthfeel

FINISH: Clean, short, slightly drying and pleasantly spicy

SHARE WITH: Any whiskey fan.

WORTH THE PRICE: Not for me, but definitely for diehard Old Fitz fans.

BOTTLE, BAR OR BUST: Bar. Your mileage may vary, but try it at a bar to be sure.

OVERALL: This is a solid whiskey that Old Fitz fans and grain-forward whiskey fans will enjoy. Were this a wine review, I’d compliment its “structure” and uniformity for playing no tricks and not changing with long exposure. The other side of that coin is it didn’t change at all with long exposure. A few drops of water did open it to reveal some nutty flavors and amplify the oak positively. Water also clears out that grassy exit that isn’t always pleasing (usually I love that). I’m not big on adding water, but it works well here.

I flat-out loved the 9-year-old Spring 2020 release, and I loved last year’s 15-year Fall release, so both left me anticipating lots from this 14 year. But it’s not working for my palate or my nose. In fact, I’m still stumped as to why I work so hard to detect aromas in this whiskey. Could it have been Ohio Valley allergies? Nope. I’m breathing clearly today. It’s just not assertive on the nose—and trust me, I worked it; spun it in my glass like a whirling dervish.

But let’s be honest: This is why these long-running brand series are so much fun to sample. Despite the label and the expectations of each release, every whiskey is unique; all have their own personality, and to a greater or lesser degree, that’s to be celebrated. I have little doubt someone else loves this more than me.

BRAND NOTES

OLD FITZGERALD BOTTLED-IN-BOND

Each spring and fall, a new edition to the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series is released. Inspired by an original 1950's Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series honor both the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree, as the brand was first registered in 1884 and was eventually sold to "Pappy" Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY.

Proof: 100 Proof

Age: Varies by Release

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES FALL 2020 EDITION OF THE OLD FITZGERALD BOTTLED-IN-BOND SERIES

BARDSTOWN, Ky. - Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of the fall 2020 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 14 years old. Comprised of barrels produced in fall of 2005, and bottled in fall of 2020, the sixth national release ushers in the latest hallmark series to the bottled-in-bond legacy.

Bottled in an ornate decanter, the fall edition denotes a black label, consistent across all fall releases. As was the case for the past editions, this edition’s tax strip, which has always been a signature of transparency on bottled-in-bond products, will disclose when the liquid was produced and bottled. The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond fall edition will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis. It meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. The edition is available at a suggested retail price of $140.

A previous 14-year-old edition was released as a visitors center and Kentucky allocated product, denoted with a red label. The fall 2020 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the first 14-year-old of the nationally released series and features Bourbon pulled from different rickhouses, at different floors, and on different production dates than the red label release. As a leader of the Bottled-in-Bond category, Heaven Hill is proud to offer a premium, allocated product within this special class that showcases the authenticity and quality of the American Whiskey portfolio. Acquired in 1999 by Heaven Hill, the legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald.

Disclaimer: Heaven Hill provided Bourbon & Banter with a sample of their product for this review. We appreciate their willingness to allow us to review their products with no strings attached. Thank you.