Old Grand-Dad 114

ReviewsAmerican WhiskeyBourbonJim BeamOld Grand-Dad

Feb 6

Old Grand-Dad 114 - ODG114 - is the big brother to Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond and the basic 80-proof Old Grand-Dad. This particular bottle is a Japanese export bottle (hence the different label) but is the same as the stateside version with the burnt sienna-outlined black label with white writing.

Old Grand-Dad is produced by Jim Beam as one of their value brands. It’s not particularly old, but packs a good punch for a $25-$30 bottle. That punch (besides the proof) is due to the high rye mashbill. Raymond Hayden founded the Old Grand-Dad brand and named it for Old Grand-Dad himself, Meredith Basil Hayden, Sr. (Raymond’s grandfather). The elder Hayden was a distiller who introduced the higher-rye mashbill to the bourbon market, which increased the “spiciness” from the rye. Today, Beam honors the Hayden line by producing the Old Grand-Dad line alongside the Basil Hayden line, one of their four Small Batch Collection product lines (Knob Creek, Booker’s, and Baker’s are the other three).

Old Grand-Dad 114: Specs

Classification: Bourbon Whiskey

Origin: Jim Beam Distillery

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Proof: 114 (57% ABV)

Age: NAS

Location: KY

Old Grand-Dad 114 Price: $30 (MSRP)

Old Grand-Dad 114 Review: Tasting Notes

Eye: Black iced tea. Medium rims and quick legs.

Nose: Somewhat tight. There’s clearly a bourbon there, but it’s reticent to come out. It opens suddenly, proof heat and corn sweetness blast your face.

Palate: Bourbon forward, good level of proof heat that dries on contact. Some nuttiness develops with air and chew. Red fruits and the nuts continue to build, albeit slowly. Creamy oak. Mouthfeel is light-to-medium, just a bit dry, and spicy.

Finish: Pleasant, if understated. Fairly short, a bit of nuttiness and fruits remain.

Overall: I wish there was more going on. It’s a classic high-rye bourbon for sure, and there’s nothing bad about it. The flavors are all good. It just isn’t super interesting.

Final Rating: 5.6

10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close (Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel)

9 | Incredible | Extraordinary (GTS, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B518 and B520)

8 | Excellent | Exceptional (12+YO MGP Bourbon, Highland Park Single Barrels)

7 | Great | Well above average (Blanton’s Original, Old Weller Antique, Booker’s)

6 | Very Good | Better than average (Four Roses Small Batch Select, Knob Creek 14+ YO Picks)

5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary (Elijah Craig Small Batch, Buffalo Trace, Old Grand-Dad Bottled-in-Bond)

4 | Sub-par | Many things I’d rather have (A.D. Laws Four Grain, Compass Box “Oak Cross”)

3 | Bad | Flawed (Iron Smoke Bourbon, Balcones)

2 | Poor | Forced myself to drink it (Buckshee Bourbon and Rye)

1 | Disgusting | Drain pour (Virginia Distilling Co. Cider Cask)