American

Whiskey Review: Old Commonwealth 10 Year Fall 2024 Release

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OVERALL
RATING

8

Bourbon Review: Old Commonwealth 10 Year Fall 2024 Release

The Old Commonwealth 10 Year Fall 2024 release both honors and diverges from the original Old Commonwealth 10 Year bourbon.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
This whiskey marks the revival of one of the most famous American bottlers of all time, Old Commonwealth—originally home to Julian Van Winkle III\’s operation from the 1980s until the early 2000s. This bourbon which is bottled in a nearly identical label to the original Old Commonwealth is the perfect homage and resurrection of American History\’s most acclaimed NDPs.
Appearance:
Mahogany
Nose:
Peanut Brittle, Acetone, Freshly Burnt Creme Brulee
Palate:
Despite the high ABV this bourbon drinks well below its proof, packing an incredible mouthful of flavor without the dreaded burn. Rich creme brulee, both the burnt sugar topping as well as the light creamy custard, peanut chews, sweetgrass, nutmeg.
Finish:
The finish warms the mouth and lingers on the top of the palate but does not overwhelm or detract at all from the initial flavors. The nutmeg and spices remain present but also open up to the sweetgrass that was hinted at towards the end of the initial sampling.
Comments:
What is incredible is that, normally, the grassiness signals a young whiskey. However, such a whiskey would normally be more heat than flavor at this ABV. This bourbon eschews those tropes, delivering a flavorful pour with an elegant finish. This is the perfect bottle to relaunch this brand and bodes well for what is to come.

How Was The Old Commonwealth 10 Year Old Fall 2024 Release Made?

The Old Commonwealth 10 Year Fall 2024 Release is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey from an undisclosed distillery. However, we do know the mash bill: 75% corn, 15% rye, 10% malted barley. Aged for 10 years, the bourbon was bottled at 131.83 proof.

What Does Pappy Van Winkle Have To Do With The Old Commonwealth Brand?

Old Commonwealth bourbon is intricately linked to the Van Winkle family, renowned for their Pappy Van Winkle whiskies. In the 1970s, Julian Van Winkle II, son of Julian “Pappy” Van Winkle, established the Old Commonwealth brand, utilizing bourbon from the esteemed Stitzel-Weller distillery.

In 1983, his son, Julian Van Winkle III, acquired the defunct Hoffman Distillery (first opened in 1889) in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, renaming it Commonwealth Distillery. This facility became the bottling site for various Van Winkle products, including the original Old Commonwealth 10 Year bourbon released in 1997.

This expression was a 107-proof wheated bourbon, believed to be sourced from Stitzel-Weller. Production of Old Commonwealth ceased in 2002 when the distillery closed. This is the newest release of Old Commonwealth whiskey, reviving the brand with an homage to the original 10 Year Old.

How Does The Old Commonwealth 10 Year Fall 2024 Release Compare To The Original?

The Old Commonwealth 10 Year Fall 2024 release both honors and diverges from the original Old Commonwealth 10-Year bourbon. Both expressions share a 10-year age statement and feature the iconic label and light green glass bottle traditionally used for fine cognac.

However, the original, released in 1997, was a 107-proof wheated bourbon, believed to be sourced from the Stitzel-Weller distillery. In contrast, the 2024 release departs from the traditional wheat-based mash bill, opting for a higher rye mash bill and resulting in a bourbon that, while still sweet, introduces subtle rye spice.

Additionally, the 2024 version is bottled at a robust cask strength of 131.83 proof, offering a more intense flavor profile compared to the original’s 107 proof.

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Tzvi (Todd) Wiesel

Tzvi (Todd) Wiesel is the Co-Founder and CEO of BAXUS, an on-chain whisky marketplace. With years of experience in the industry, Todd is passionate about whisky investmemt and trading, as well as trying new whiskies wherever possible. Todd is the head of our US reviews team and is based in New York.

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