Editor’s Note: This whiskey was provided to us as a review sample by Heaven Hill. This in no way, per our editorial policies, influenced the final outcome of this review.
I was so excited to taste this that I opted to re-visit the 11 year version of the Old Fitz. It did not fail. After a couple of releases, this series is pretty darn good. An 11 year, a 9 year. All bottled in bond.
The bottled-in-bond regulations were developed to ensure quality during a time when product tampering was more common. Old Fitzgerald, Larceny, and a handful of other brands are a tribute to the days where the best whiskey was approved and monitored by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. It may be less necessary in some respects to follow these rules today, but the heritage ensure quality. Plus we all like to enjoy a story with our whiskey.
This is one of the oldest of the series thus far. When it comes to aging, I try to keep it to the 15-20 year range. I tend to like BIB whiskeys, but it can be a bit of a crap shoot at times. That said, this series is always exciting to try.
As with the other expressions in this ongoing series, the Spring 2019 release comes bottled in an ornate decanter sporting a green label, which the distillery says “will stay consistent across all spring 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.”
Tasting Notes: Old Fitzgerald 13 Year Old Bottled in Bond (Spring 2019)
Vital Stats: 100 proof, 50% ABV, aged 13 years. Made in Fall 2005 and bottled 1-30-19. $130 per 750ml bottle
Appearance: Copper in color, the same, beautiful decanter style bottle as with previous batches.
Nose: Somewhere between a rich butterscotch or toffee, with that slightly boozy burn.
Palate: Medium bodied and highlighting toffee flavors. The finish lingers with notes of oak and spice. This is a simple, straight forward bourbon and doesn’t try to be anything other than that.