Very Special Old Fitzgerald

/ / Bourbon, Review / ,

Very Special Old Fitzgerald Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 12 Years Old
45% ABV
$40
Website
OldFitzgerald12yo
What the Distillery Says:
An historic brand, which dates back over 120 years, Old Fitzgerald Bourbon enjoys a nationally recognized reputation as an award winning whiskey with a tradition of extra-aging.

Made with a “whisper of wheat” instead of the more traditional rye grain, Old Fitzgerald offers a unique and well-loved taste profile. Today, Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam have preserved the traditional formula and techniques, while adding the benefits of seven generations of Bourbon distilling expertise.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Anise, light cigar paper, subtle sweetness.
Palate: Light, wood smoke with some spice, but balanced nicely with a cereal honey note.
Finish: Medium, but uninspiring.
Comments: I actually like the nose on the BIB better than this, but the palate here is more complex. The age shows better there, where on the nose for me I think the wood hides some of the sweeter notes (while not being what I would call a real “oaky” nose). Overall, I think this is a small step up, but priced like it should be a giant leap forward.
Rating: Probably Pass

What Richard Says:
Nose: Licorice, crisp apples drizzled with wildflower honey, and vanilla custard.
Palate: This is a really odd palate. When you first sip it’s like the whiskey reaches out, grabs your tongue, and pulls you in. But quickly that aggressiveness passes and you are left with a light, almost bland bourbon reminiscent of Honeycomb cereal and old wet toothpicks.
Finish: Bland, dry, and woody.
Comments: The distribution for this has been scaled way back. Now you can only buy it in a handful of states, of which Georgia is not one. I grabbed my bottle at the visitor’s center in Bardstown. I was kind of geeky excited to find and buy it but I’ve been pretty disappointed with it. If there was ever a bourbon in the 12 and under age range that typified being over oaked this might just be it. Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbon doesn’t seem to take as well to long time in the wood as Buffalo Trace. If you are interested in Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbon I recommend you skip the four Old Fitz versions and go for the terribly drinkable Larceny.
Rating: Average

Very Special Old Fitzgerald Read More »

Old Fitzgerald 1849

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald 1849 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
45% ABV
$17
Website
1849
What the Distillery Says:
An historic brand, which dates back over 120 years, Old Fitzgerald Bourbon enjoys a nationally recognized reputation as an award winning whiskey with a tradition of extra-aging.

Made with a “whisper of wheat” instead of the more traditional rye grain, Old Fitzgerald offers a unique and well-loved taste profile. Today, Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam have preserved the traditional formula and techniques, while adding the benefits of seven generations of Bourbon distilling expertise.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sweet corn, a bit more wood, some mint, anise is there, but more subdued.
Palate: Bit more bite up front, corn sweetness with a little pepper spice going on.
Finish: Medium in length.
Comments: Compared to Old Fitz Prime, I tend to prefer this as it has a little more spice and edge to it, although it is still a pretty mellow pour. Only a couple of bucks more, and about that much better I’d say.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Much lighter than the other versions with a nice mellow sweetness.
Palate: Sweet toffee syrup with a nips of black pepper around the edges.
Finish: Heavier on the wood coming through the finish compared to the Prime and BIB.
Comments: Another fine serviceable version of Old Fitz. This one isn’t going to knock your socks off but it’s not off putting in the least.
Rating: Average

Old Fitzgerald 1849 Read More »

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond
50% ABV
$15
Website
10441894
What the Distillery Says:
An historic brand, which dates back over 120 years, Old Fitzgerald Bourbon enjoys a nationally recognized reputation as an award winning whiskey with a tradition of extra-aging.

Made with a “whisper of wheat” instead of the more traditional rye grain, Old Fitzgerald offers a unique and well-loved taste profile. Today, Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam have preserved the traditional formula and techniques, while adding the benefits of seven generations of Bourbon distilling expertise.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Quite nice – vanilla, toffee, anise, toasted marshmallow, rice pudding, hint of coconut – all with a backdrop of musty rickhouse.
Palate: Sweet corn, tapioca, vanilla; smooth.
Finish: Medium in length, with a hint (and I mean a hint) of spice at the end.
Comments: Bottled-In-Bond typically means it is 4 years old (although it certainly could be older), but comes across as right around that to me. A step up from Old Fitz Prime and Old Fitz 1849, while not much of a step up in price (in fact, may be the same or less than 1849). I appreciate the extra proof, and the nose for me is a big improvement over the others.
Rating: Stands Out

What Richard Says:
Nose: Slightly musty at first but it opens into toffee crisps, vanilla, and a little barrel char.
Palate: A richer mouth feel than the Prime. The extra proof makes it more assertive and direct. Corn pudding, vanilla wafers, and a black pepper bite sprinkled in with the wood notes.
Finish: Barrel char and a sprinkle of white pepper around the edges.
Comments: For $15 this is a damn fine bourbon. It drinks more like a rye bourbon than a normal wheater. This would make a nice sipper or mixer. With somewhat limited availability you might want to consider grabbing if one when you see it if it isn’t normally available in your area.
Rating: Stands Out

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Read More »

Old Fitzgerald Prime

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Old Fitzgerald Prime Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
43% ABV
$14
Website
PRIME
What the Distillery Says:
An historic brand, which dates back over 120 years, Old Fitzgerald Bourbon enjoys a nationally recognized reputation as an award winning whiskey with a tradition of extra-aging.

Made with a “whisper of wheat” instead of the more traditional rye grain, Old Fitzgerald offers a unique and well-loved taste profile. Today, Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam have preserved the traditional formula and techniques, while adding the benefits of seven generations of Bourbon distilling expertise.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Anise, candy corn in molasses, hint of mint.
Palate: Licorice, caramel corn, cherry-cola (strange, but that’s what the brain is pegging it at!), bit of wood.
Finish: Fleeting with just a touch of spice at the end.
Comments: While a pleasant dram, I would also call it forgettable and uninspiring. I tend to prefer rye-forward bourbons than wheaters, which doesn’t help its cause for me personally. Very smooth – for the money, it isn’t bad. This is the “entry level” in the Old Fitz line, so would expect better when progressing through the lineup.
Rating: Average

What Richard Says:
Nose: Initially it’s a sharp licorice nose that settles into honeysuckle and spearmint.
Palate: The mouthfeel is very thin but the flavor is nice. A light candy sweetness that quickly turns dry with a black pepper bite around the edges.
Finish: Black pepper with a dash of cayenne and wet wood pulp.
Comments: Meh. Not bad by any means but not noteworthy either. For $14 you could definitely do worse. It’s thin and doesn’t leave you wanting more but it is a fine utility bourbon.
Rating: Average

Old Fitzgerald Prime Read More »

Lost Prophet

/ / Bourbon, Review /

Lost Prophet Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 22 Years
45.05% ABV
$120
Website
Orphan-Barrel_Lost-Prophet-Bottle-Shot_Lo-Res
What the Distillery Says:
Lost Prophet speaks softly but carries a big stick. Eloquent and gentle, this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was unearthed after spending 22 long years resting in charred American white oak barrels, tucked away in a corner of the historic Stitzel-Weller rickhouses in Shively, Kentucky.

Lost Prophet is a soft spoken whiskey, with aromas of honey, apricot and clove that reveal a silky, full-bodied taste with notes of spiced vanilla and a touch of leather, culminating in a sweet smoky finish.

Only a small amount of Lost Prophet exists and it will only be released once. After the last bottle has been sold, it’s gone for good, its nomadic journey coming to an end.

What Gary Says:
Nose: Sitting in an old, comfy leather chair where cigars had been enjoyed prior (but not recently), rich vanilla, nice balance with oak.
Palate: Brighter and sweeter than the nose advertised, dark stewed fruit (maybe fruitcake?).
Finish: Moderately long, and sweet.
Comments: This was better than I expected, and I prefer it over Forged Oak or Rhetoric 20yr. The nose is really nice, and balances the savory (including a hint of smoke) with the sweet like a pro. The palate was more on the sweet side, which was a bit of a surprise – but I’d rather have more sweet than oak personally (but it isn’t “too sweet” either). So far, this is definitely one of my favorites from the Orphan Barrel series.
Rating: Must Try

What Richard Says:
Nose: Stewed peaches, caramel chews, creme brulee, and cinnamon candies.
Palate: Rich cinnamon and vanilla sweetness battling with a tart, tannic woodiness.
Finish: Long and slow with a rich sweetness fading to a strong oak note.
Comments: Not one for the oak averse but it’s a very nice expression of 20+ year old bourbon. I really enjoy this one. The oak does this really interesting interplay with that honey vanilla sweetness.
Rating: Must Try

Lost Prophet Read More »