Old Grand-Dad Bottled-In-Bond

ReviewsAmerican WhiskeyBourbonJim BeamOld Grand-Dad

Feb 15

Thanks to Sandee at the Whiskey Ward for the picture!

Old Grand-Dad Bottled-In-Bond is a fantastic example of value bourbon. At $20/bottle - even less, sometimes - you get a cheap, versatile bourbon that can work neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail equally well.

Old Grand-Dad (OGD) has a storied history, being at one time owned by National Distillers and taken over by Jim Beam in the ‘80s. Like Old Crow - another line now owned by Jim Beam but previously a separate entity - it doesn’t quite fit the Beam profile. When I think Jim Beam, I think peanuts and caramel popcorn. There’s a hint of that in both Old Crow and Old Grand-Dad, but the latter hits a little closer to the mark.

I do enjoy Old Grand-Dad neat the most. To me, it’s where you can most clearly see the high-rye content and the difference between this and, let’s say, Jim Beam White Label or a similarly-priced Beam product that has a slightly lower rye content than the OGD. Either way, you can’t go wrong with a bottle of this on your shelf.

Old Grand-Dad Bottled-In-Bond Specs

Classification: Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Origin: Jim Beam Distillery

Mashbill: Jim Beam High Rye Mashbill

Proof: 100 (50% ABV)

Age: NAS (4+Y)

Location: Kentucky

Old Grand-Dad Bottled-In-Bond Price: $20

Old Grand-Dad Bottled-In-Bond: Tasting Notes

Eye: Bronze, medium rim lilts with droplet legs.

Nose: The rye is immediately apparent, bready and yeasty. Behind it, stone fruits and a hint of vanilla, but make no mistake it’s a rye-powered bourbon.

Palate: Again, very rye-forward. Herbal, stone fruit, but mild spice. Spicy vanilla tries to butt in, but the rye dominates again. Mouthfeel is coating, if barely, and light-to-medium heft.

Finish: Fairly short and drying.

Overall: Could be mistaken for a barely-legal rye, but solid as a high-rye bourbon nonetheless. Not my go-to, but a nice pour.

Final Rating: 5.0

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)