Old Fitzgerald 13 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon (Spring 2019)

I was given a sample of this, and something else special arrived, so I thought it would be fitting for a good celebratory drink. Aroma: sweet, brown sugar, some red apple, oak, red licorice, cinnamon or perhaps something a bit spicier, nutty, vanilla, caramel, corn Taste: oh wow, that's sweet, nutty, toasted deliciousness. this would be dangerous. I could swallow this and immediately take another sip. the second sip was so good. I just want more of this in my mouth and I can't really focus on what I'm tasting. what is this brown magic??, vanilla frosting, caramel, corn Aftertaste: nutty, somewhat oily, long-lasting, oak, tobacco, corn, peppery 85/100 - I will buy it at the suggested retail price. This is truly good, but the finish doesn't have the flavors I prefer. It lasts forever, it's just not particularly tasty. I would compare it to eating nuts, and the nutty flavor just stays in your mouth indefinitely. If that sounds appealing, then certainly go for this, but that's not something I will seek out. The aroma is pleasant, nothing extraordinary, but there's something happening on the palate that just captivates my attention, and I'm having trouble concentrating enough on the actual notes. Old Fitz isn't excessively priced at MSRP when you can find it – but is that even possible? These usually go for over 350 on the secondary market, and I'm not paying that. I'm also surprised by how much oak I detected, and it makes me wonder about the 14 and 15-year offerings. The longer I sip this, the less interesting it becomes.

I haven't tried any Old Fitzgerald expressions before. While I've had Larceny, which shares the same mashbill and features John E. Fitzgerald's name, this is my first time with this particular bottling. This was provided as a sample, and I'm eager to dive in. The bouquet presents notes of sweet buttered corn, vanilla, subtle aged leather, baked bread, a dusting of cocoa, a floral hint, and a touch of dried fruit and pear. I realize this might be controversial, but the buttered corn aroma reminds me strongly of a similar note found in Dickel Bottled In Bond, which I also appreciate. The taste is full and oily, featuring buttered corn, mild oak, a hint of leather, gentle baking spices, toasted nuts, and pleasant dried apricots. One could describe it as rich and refined. The finish is on the longer side of medium. A lingering taste of vanilla, oak, nuttiness, mild spices, and sweet corn remains on the palate. I truly savored this. However, I'm relieved the attractive bottle wasn't present, as it might have tempted me to overpay on the secondary market. I believe the aesthetics and the liquid justify the retail cost, but no more than that.

I enjoyed this considerably, but perhaps it's not worth the price? Nose: Very typical of wheated bourbon. Vanilla, browned sugars, grassy herbal notes, a slight ethanol sting but not overpowering. Flavor: Sweet vanilla and caramel with roasted nuts like pecans. A buttery mouthfeel. This certainly demonstrates why wheated bourbons benefit so much from extended aging. Finish: Not as long as I anticipated, with more sweet vanilla notes and some wood and smoke, plus more toasted nuts. Overall, this was a satisfying wheated bourbon but didn't blow me away. If this were priced at $50-$75 and readily available, I could see it as a regular choice, but at over $130 suggested retail and well over $300 on the secondary market, I'll likely avoid it.

The liquid is a deep, rich amber, leaving heavy, oily streaks on the glass. The aroma is delicate, featuring gentle oak, dark chocolate, and fruit, with undertones of creamy vanilla and caramel, plus a hint of spice. The palate is rich, becoming drier the longer it's held. It presents a pleasant oak-forward profile with a peppery fruitiness, balanced by creamy vanilla and sweet caramel. The finish is of medium length, with a persistent spicy oakiness, while the richer notes fade pleasantly, leaving a wonderful dark chocolate mouthfeel. The experience is slightly held back by a too-subtle nose and a finish that concludes too quickly to fully complement the excellent palate.

Aroma- butterscotch, peaches, caramelized sugars, seasoned oak, toffee Taste- honey on the palate initially, peanut butter, caramel galore, vanilla, white cake, a touch of oak and spiciness throughout Finish- Long, creamy finish with beautiful notes of caramel, spice, and sweet honey This is outstanding. An improvement on the already fantastic 9-year. The aroma is great, though a little hot for 100 proof. The taste and finish are superb. Perfectly balanced and everything a wheated bourbon ought to aspire to be.

Consumed neat. The aroma is dominated by vanilla and oak, with a slight nuttiness. It carries notes of cream and berries, specifically cherries and perhaps raspberries. These light, bright notes are balanced by the oak, evening everything out. It feels surprisingly thick on the tongue, with excellent flavor. Sweetness, powdered sugar, and those cherries and berries are present, coated in a bit of maple. The finish introduces all the oak and vanilla. The legs suggest a pastry crust flavor. An attractive bottle. A beautiful wheated bourbon.