Welcome to installment six of our 10-part list of bulletproof party bottles. Thus far, we’ve highlighted Very Old Barton 86, OGD 114, Jura 10, Woodford Double Oaked, and Rittenhouse BiB Rye. Today we feature what, for my tastes at least, might be one of the best examples of Platonic ideal bourbon flavors — Old Tub.

Decades ago, Old Tub was the flagship label for Jim Beam before it slowly fell into obscurity and eventual disuse. However, after the new millennium dawned, Beam resurrected Old Tub as their gift shop label. From there, it built hype until it received a full-blown return to the production line in summer 2020.

Old Tub to me is the sweeter, creamier sibling to OGD Bonded — both have the same age, same distillery, but the mashbill sets them apart. This is a delight to sip neat or on the rocks, with a nose and finish far better than you’d expect for a $24 price of admission. I’ve often heard this called Bookers Jr., and that is basically not wrong.

And for the whiskey newcomers, this is a spectacular bottle for mixing. The unfiltered bottling really brings some extra flavor and texture that shines through in a cocktail, and the sweetness already present in the bourbon makes it an ideal partner with citrus or bitters.

So, for a Swiss Army knife bourbon that will please neophyte and bourbon historian alike, this is an ultra-safe bet. And again, at $24 a pop, no big loss if it gets left behind.

Image courtesy of Jon who also writes on Low Class & High Proof.

Low Class & High Proof

I learned how to make cocktails watching Danger 5