Throughout 2024 our reviews team sampled countless bourbons. One, however, stood head and shoulders above the rest. That is why we are excited to announce that the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition has been named Best Bourbon and Whisky of the Year at the inaugural Whiskey Wash Awards. In recognition of this, we have awarded the bourbon a Double Gold Medal.
Bottled in celebration of 25 years since Heaven Hill acquired the Old Fitzgerald brand, the bourbon was crafted in accordance with Bottled-in-Bond legislation, which has been protecting the integrity of bourbon since 1897. The reviewers at The Whiskey Wash were blown away by this bourbon, leading to the highest honor in our first-ever competition.
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The Whiskey Wash Awards
The Whiskey Wash Awards is an independent, no-fee competition in which we took the results of all of our reviews in 2024 and awarded medals to the highest-scoring expressions – Silver, Gold, and Double Gold.
Our methodology differs from most whisky and spirit competitions. None of the entrants nor medal winners knew that they were being considered for medals when they submitted samples for review, nor did the producers pay to be entered. This removes commercial bias from our reviewers, all of whom are extremely passionate about good-tasting whisky.
We reviewed over 300 expressions across many categories in 2024. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition stood out amongst the rest.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition
Distilled in September 1999 from a classic bourbon mash bill (68% corn, 20% wheat, 12% malted barley), this Old Fitzgerald began its journey towards becoming a 25th-anniversary release. Aged for 13 years in charred oak barrels, it was finally laid to rest in March 2013.
Notably, this bourbon overcame the challenges of aging in Kentucky’s notoriously hot climate, a feat that refutes the notion that bourbon loses its character beyond 12 years. Bottled in February 2024 to commemorate Heaven Hill Brands‘ acquisition of Old Fitzgerald in 1999, this expression is a testament to the brand’s enduring legacy.
Why Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition Has Been Named Best Bourbon & Whiskey Of The Year
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition was sampled by The Whiskey Wash founder and former reviewer, Nino Kilgore-Marchetti, in June 2024.
Speaking to us recently, Nino reflected on the Old Fitzgerald bourbon: “Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition, quite frankly, is one of the most amazing whiskeys I’ve had the pleasure of trying over the years. Easily top five of all time. If you can track down a bottle, do it – you won’t regret it – a legendary release worthy of being crowned Whisky of the Year by The Whiskey Wash.”
‘A Legendary Bourbon’
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition is revered not only among our reviewers but also among bourbon connoisseurs across the world. This award aims to recognize the exceptional craftsmanship involved in crafting a bourbon like this. With its 13-year maturation, the Old Fitzgerald defied expectations upon release. I wager it will be enjoyed by those who can find a bottle for many years to come.
Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition: Double Gold, Best Bourbon, Whisky of the Year.
Original Notes by Nino Kilgore-Marchetti
Heaven Hill, in its long and storied history since first being founded by the Shapira family in 1935 in Kentucky, has continually focused on producing an extensive range of American whiskeys, many of which are tied to rich brand story histories within themselves. Amongst the over two million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses across two Kentucky warehouses, a select number of top-quality barrels find themselves in some of the distillery’s higher-end lineups, including the decanter-focused Old Fitzgerald expressions.
The legendary Old Fitzgerald line, as the story goes from Heaven Hill, “is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald, whose legacy is also heralded by the Larceny Bourbon brand. Both brands use Heaven Hill’s wheated bourbon mash bill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley.”
The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Series, as it is presented today, normally consists of two seasonal releases: spring and fall. There’s also a third variant under the moniker VVS (Very Very Special) that comes out very rarely.
What’s in the bottle
Before this year, only two VVS offerings had been made available: the VVS 2018 14-year-old and VVS 2020 16-year-old. What’s on the review table here now, the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition, marks the third. Heaven Hill noted of this release when it came out that “after the catastrophic fire at the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in November 1996, Heaven Hill acquired the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville in April 1999. The barrels used for this release were produced in September 1999, emptied in March 2013 and bottled in February 2024.
“When these barrels were tested in 2013, it was decided that the taste profile at 13 years old was exceptional and the profile would be reserved for a special occasion, such as this 25th Anniversary Edition. Thirteen is also a lucky number for Heaven Hill, as the company filled its first barrel ever on December 13, 1935.”
‘The Bernheim Distillery became the lifeblood of Heaven Hill after the setback from the fire and has been ever since,” said Executive Chairman Max Shapira at the time of its recent release. “We are honored to have been able to continue the Old Fitzgerald legacy since that time and look forward to many more years of exceptional releases from Bernheim Distillery and from the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery set to open early next year.”
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This bourbon, aged 13 years and bottled at 100 proof, comprises 13-year-old barrels. The bottle’s maroon label denotes its special edition status. It is priced at $229.99.
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