Proselytizing the way of the malt
We’ve been a little like that cheerleader who says she goes all the way but never does. We’ve been talking up a site redesign for quite a while. Well, we finally got off our lazy asses and ponied up. There’s a new look and new features that we’ve recently added under the old design and will be adding under the new design. Stop in a have a look around.
Thanks,
Your Whisk(e)y Apostles
Big Bottom American Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 3 Years
45.5% ABV/91 Proof
$27.99
Available in stores in Oregon and soon to be Georgia, online in additional states
What the Distillery/Bottler Says:
Aged in new white oak casks and proofed at 91°, our American Straight Bourbon Whiskey consists of 36% rye. The complexity of the whiskey contains spicy undertones of cloves and allspice entwined with honeysuckle. The pleasing balances of spice create a long smooth finish.
What Richard Says:
Nose: Vanilla, caramel, fresh cut wood, a little floral note here and there.
Palate: On the tongue it’s young but relatively smooth. Fruity sweetness followed by rye spice.
Finish: Very hot on the finish. Even with a good measure of water it’s still a hot one.
Comments: For three year old bourbon this was a lot better than I expected. Ted and company source their whiskey from an undisclosed supplier (I asked but no dice) and while it’s pretty average on the entire bourbon spectrum, I think they chose their barrels very well. This is really good for a young bourbon. With a few more years on it I think it could really stand out.
Rating: Average
We would like to thank Ted Pappas for providing us with review samples.
Old Grand-Dad Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond
50% ABV/100 Proof
$17 to $20
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: More oak than the 86 proof version. A little water opens up some peach notes and a hint of maple syrup.
Palate: Robust. The rye kick comes out first and keeps plugging through the whole way. A little water opens up some nice floral notes and a corn syrup sweetness that plays well with the spicy rye.
Finish: Surprisingly mellow at bottle strength. The finish is rye and oak all the way. Water tends to kill the finish.
Comments: Of all the Old Grand Dad versions (including Basil Hayden’s) this my favorite. Part of it is a little sentimentality because of the increasing rarity of bottle in bond bourbon. Mostly, it’s because this is a kick ass version. Old school rye bourbon? Here you go. It’s more flavorful and robust than Basil Hayden’s and the 86 proof version without the alcohol fire of OGD 114. This is plain old bourbon. No fancy aging, finishing, or tinkering. Just good stuff in the bottle. I always try to keep a bottle of this at home right next to my Rittenhouse Bottled In Bond.
Rating: Stands Out
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 recall a few years ago how surprised I was to find out that Jim Beam only makes two bourbons. Yes they sell quite a few bottlings but unlike Buffalo Trace and Four Roses they only use two recipes for there regular line of products. Like many distillers they have been experimenting in recent years but aside from rare one time experiments bottled for travel retail like Jim Beam Signature, they only use two recipes for all their bourbon products. Most of their products use the standard Jim Beam recipe. It shows up in Jim Beam White Label, Jim Beam 7 Year old, Jim Beam Black, Knob Creek, Knob Creek Reserve, Bookers, and Bakers. The less known “other” recipe is the Old Grand Dad recipe. All the different bottlings from the Jim Beam recipe vary only in barrel, age, bottling strength, and location. As it goes in the barrel they are all the same. Old Grand Dad is a little different.
The Old Grand Dad brand was purchased by Jim Beam in 1987. Prior to that it was owned by National Distillers Group, their predecessor the American Medicinal Spirits Company, the Wathen family, and all the way back to 1840 when the original owners, the Hayden family, first started commercially distilling. The brand was started by Raymond Hayden and named after his grandfather. The grandfather’s name was Basil Hayden. You may have noticed that I didn’t include Basil Hayden in the roll call of Jim Beam recipe brands above. That’s because it’s the only Small Batch Collection bourbon not made from the the Jim Beam recipe. It’s Old Grand Dad through and through. It’s just aged 8 years and watered down to 80 proof.
I thought it would be fun to focus on this “lesser” side of the Jim Beam bourbon empire. The Old Grand Dad recipe shows up in Old Grand Dad, Old Grand Dad Bottled in Bond, Old Grand Dad 114, and of course Basil Hayden. We will be focusing our reviews on these four bourbons for the month of June. I personally find Old Grand Dad’s iterations a little smoother and easier to drink than Jim Beam. I hope you venture out and give them a try.
We’ve also still got some various samples rolling in to the Whisk(e)y Apostle Fortress of Solitude so look for our thoughts on Big Bottom Whiskey and Balblair too. And! We may even see Matt getting back in the saddle this month.
Drink wisely my friends,
Richard