Old Fitzgerald 11, Spring 2018, Bottled-in-bond, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 50% abv.

Heaven Hill Distillery released a limited-edition series of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bonds, which will typically be out each Spring and Fall for the next 4-5 years. This is the first in the series with juice from barrels filled around February through May of 2006. Supposedly an outrun of 14,000-17,000 bottles.

Nose: major crackerjacks, major roasted almonds, nutty, caramel bbq popcorn, burnt teriyaki sauce, sweet bbq, smoked pork ribs with some gasoline rub on there, chipotle, low levels of peppercorn, burnt rice in bbq sauce, wow... seriously unexpected.

Palate: a little dry, minty, great body, well balanced, hints of spice, initial palate has slight wood that peeks here and there, mid palate is some peanut butter and roasted nuts mix, mostly spicey and sweet, perhaps some dark fruits and berries, sweet BBQ and light gasoline, back palate has caramel and chocolate, spice which builds up, begins to dry the mouth early.

Finish: short to medium, spicey, chocolate, changes to a nutty blueberry juice.

Dry glass: a lighter version of the nose, bbq, nuts, peanut butter.

I thought this was amazing!!! and as my first pour for the night (and at a relatively low proof) from a relatively new bottle, I am delightfully surprised. Hits all phases, funky on the nose, but very enjoyable, the flavors are mostly sweet or tangy BBQ sauce-type with unleaded gasoline and low levels of fruit. The finish is just good enough. This bottling seems to be a little controversial amongst the general populace... someone compared it to Larceny, but I don't think its comparable... that taster must have had disturbed samples only... or I'm delusional.

Grade: B+

Thewhiskeyjug, Josh Peters, 86/100
Whisky advocate, Fred Minnick, 93 points

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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