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Bourbon

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond Fall 2018 Edition

$90.00
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OVERALL
RATING

9

Whiskey Review: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond Fall 2018 Edition

We review Old Fitzgerald's Bottled-in-Bond Fall 2018 edition, a nine-year-old wheated bourbon made following the BiB rules.
  • Cameron Holck is a Four Roses Bourbon sales rep who enhances hospitality with a great drink.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
100 Proof, nine years old, distilled fall 2008, bottled in May of 2018. 75% corn, 20% wheat, 5% malted barley. Around $90 for a 750ml.
Appearance:
Clear amber.
Nose:
Floral lavender and lilac. Smooth and bright with apple pie and caramelized butter.
Palate:
Smooth, sweet and buttery with a distinctive chalkiness. Cashews, sweet tomatoes, red delicious apples, followed by limestone dust and corn flakes.
Finish:
Comments:
Just knowing that you’re drinking a season’s worth of hard work makes this whiskey a special occasion. It is very much an ideal sipping bourbon, one worthy of the price. You don’t notice the oak or the proof as much as you might expect, which might lead you looking for a little bit more complexity after the first few sips. However, the flavor and minerality, along with fruit and overall smoothness, make this an exceptional example of a bottled-in-bond bourbon.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

We introduced Heaven Hill’s new limited-edition Bottled-In-Bond series of Old Fitzgerald in March, and now we’re excited to review the latest release. As a leading producer, the Heaven Hill distillery boasts an incredible volume of bottled-in-bond whiskey. Their Old Fitzgerald project began in 1999 when Heaven Hill purchased the brand and began aging wheated bourbons in the 2000’s under the late Parker Beam and his son Craig.

Now headed by Denny Potter and Charlie Downs, the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond series is a true expression of history. Adhering to the bottled-in-bond regulations, this whiskey was distilled during a single year at a single distillery, aged for at least four years in a bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof. Heaven Hill adds another layer by distinguishing between two distilling seasons each year – spring and fall – hearkening back to a time when distillation was more closely dependent on seasonal grain harvests.

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 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 particular bourbon was distilled in fall  2008, which was a slightly warmer and drier year than usual. Another important feature is that Old Fitzgerald is a wheated bourbon. At 20% wheat, it approaches the ‘seasoning’ of the corn differently than rye ‘flavored’ bourbons. Softer and less spicy, some of the most desired bourbons fall under the wheated category, often because they are usually fantastic neat.

Tasting Notes: Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond Fall 2018 Edition

Vital Stats: 100 Proof, nine years old, distilled fall 2008, bottled in May of 2018. 75% corn, 20% wheat, 5% malted barley. Around $90 for a 750ml.

Appearance: Clear amber.

Nose: Floral lavender and lilac. Smooth and bright with apple pie and caramelized butter.

Palate: Smooth, sweet and buttery with a distinctive chalkiness. Cashews, sweet tomatoes, red delicious apples, followed by limestone dust and corn flakes.

Cameron Holck

After graduating with an engineering degree in Colorado, Cameron Holck found his true calling in the hospitality industry. He pursued his love of the outdoors to the Pacific Northwest, where he continues his dedication to bartending and serves as a sales representative for Four Roses Bourbon. Cameron believes that a night out is defined by the quality of hospitality and strives to enhance that experience with a fantastic drink (likely whiskey) in your hand.

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