The Old Fitzgerald label from Heaven Hill has gone through a bottom-shelf renaissance over the past decade or so. Mostly in part to the Old Fitzgerald Decanter series. A biannual release from Heaven Hill featuring bottled-in-bond expressions of varying ages. These bottles quickly became the envy of all bourbon enthusiasts with limited national releases and distillery exclusives. The elegant bottles are a throwback to the decanter bottles of the 70s and 80s.
Heaven Hill is now releasing a standard 7-year bottled-in-bond expression intended to defy the limited availability of their decanter bottles. Heaven Hill has marketed this release will come in two waves each year. This is consistent with the legal requirements of the Bottled In Bond Act, where a whiskey must be produced in the same distilling season, a Spring (January-June) and Fall (July-December). My understanding is that the goal is to make this much more accessible and a shelf-staple.
I am certainly a fan of aged statements returning to bourbon. Long gone are the days were a 12-year bourbon was commonplace. Is this release a sign that the tide is turning? Who’s to say? This release is incredibly popular with collectors and enthusiasts, and while it is difficult to find now, it is only going to be more and more available with each release.
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.
Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.
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