Old Grand-Dad Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
43% ABV/86 Proof
$13 to $15
Widely Available
What the Distillery Says:
Old Grand-Dad was a distiller named Basil Hayden who made his name by distilling a bourbon whiskey made with a higher percentage of rye. Basil Hayden passed along the art of distilling to his son and then, in turn, to his grandson. It was the third generation distiller, Colonel R.B. Hayden, who honored his grandfather by naming his justly famed
whiskey “Old Grand-Dad.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Caramel, wildflowers, corn, and black tea.
Palate: Sweet and mellow at first, then you run into a distinct rye spiciness.
Finish: Heavy on the spicy rye.
Comments: Old Grand Dad isn’t your typical bottom shelf old bourbon brand. It’s quite a bit better than Old Crow, Rebel Yell, and all those other “old redneck” bourbons you might sneer at when picking up the latest “master distiller’s” whatever. If you want to know what “rye spiciness” is in a bourbon when you see it written then pick up a bottle of this and you’ll find out. In cocktail, on the rocks, or straight up…I’ll take an Old Grand Dad whenever it’s offered.
Rating: Average
I will have to pick up a bottle. How does it compare to EW?
Much more rye spiciness. Evan Williams is a much more muted bourbon.