- $180
- 100 Proof
- 16 Years
- Kentucky
Somehow news of this release escaped me. I've always been a fan of Old Grand-Dad. I like the spicy, almost dusty quality that it always seems to have, and OGD 114 is one of my favorite semi-regularly available bottles on the shelf. And yet, when news of a 16 year OGD hit, it somehow went below my radar.
So, when I saw some new, unrecognizable bottle on the shelf at Costco, and upon closer inspection realized just what it was, I pulled the trigger without questioning it. Perhaps at its price-point I should have, but, in the end, buyer's remorse is just a part of this hobby. It's inescapable. Luckily, though, I managed to avoid it with this bottle, which was pretty much everything I would have wanted or expected from a well-aged OGD!
Upon popping the very fat (dare I say thicc) cork on this wide-mouthed bottle, I got the immediate and familiar note of peanuts that I associate with Jim Beam products. In fact, it was more present than usual with this one, as it really took over. Behind that peanut note were notes of oak and caramel. It even had a little bit of anise to it, as well as a pretty strong cinnamon note to tickle my nose a bit.
Not surprisingly, my first sip gave a significant peanut note right away. However, it was definitely on the sweeter side, almost like a peanut brittle, just not quite that sweet. But, other flavors, including fairly prominent notes of honey and caramel, provided a sweetness that I didn't expect and don't usually get out of Old Grand-Dad bottlings. There were also notes of vanilla bean and nougat that lent to the sweetness and almost dessert-like quality.
There was also a light oakiness up front. At first I was surprised at how little oak came through. However, as the bottle had been open a bit, it certainly took on a more oaky quality, definitely noticeable in later pours. There was also a cinnamon spice which, along with that oak note, kept this from getting overly sweet. Even a dark chocolate note kept through to try to temper the sweetness.
However, on the sweet-spice spectrum, I'd put this well on the sweet end. While there was some spice, this was unquestionably a sweet bourbon, and it was that sweet peanut note, that note that reminded me of peanut brittle, that lingered forever on the finish. While it wasn't what I was expecting, it was absolutely delicious, leaving me wanting more and more!
Grade: A-
