Old Fitzgerald 17 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon (Spring 2022)

Nose: Blackberries and candy. Rich, thick, warm caramel. Gentle wood notes, but perfectly harmonious. Not too much oak. Vanilla. Body: Moderate to substantial. Palate: Starts with toffee on the upfront taste, shifting to caramel and vanilla, then subsides into blackberry and vanilla, finally blending into the lengthy smoky, sugary aftertaste. Finish: Lasts a moderate to long time, featuring barrel smoke and sweet vanilla blackberries. Comment: This was a fantastic find via 1010. Truly a fortunate occasion. I'm eager to review this after trying it yesterday, and I firmly believe it's an exceptional pour. It evokes a less assertive barrel gold, more subtle (and that's fine), but possesses the familiar caramel and vanilla, with a unique upfront taste that's almost minty, like minty toast and toffee, followed by blackberry sweetness at the back. The distinction from barrel gold is the absence of that Tennessee whiskey orange Starburst taste. This is a superb dram, incredibly smooth, so handle with care to avoid drinking it too quickly if you find a bottle.

What an incredible aroma of dark caramel-coated toasted oak, chocolate cream pie, apples with cinnamon and sugar, vanilla bean, and my grandfather relaxing in an old leather armchair, puffing on his pipe. Incredibly balanced and evocative; I can't stop smelling it. Surprisingly, the fruitiness arrives first with bright red apple and red cherry before the toasted oak envelops the palate. It has an awesome weight and smoothness here too, with hot cinnamon, clove, vanilla, and toasted marshmallow providing much-welcomed spice and sweetness. The finish is long-lasting and flavorful, with more toasty oak and caramel. Nearly perfect. There's absolutely nothing I would change about this bourbon. The nose is amazing, the oak doesn't overpower, it's super smooth and lively on the palate, incredibly complex, and makes you want more. My favorite Old Fitz to date.

These OFBIB releases continue to improve. The most recent one presents an olfactory profile of heavy spice, sweet notes of caramel, fresh cocoa, and young tobacco. These flavors carry through to the palate, becoming even more pronounced. Drinkable at full strength, the body is medium-light, with a round and warming mid-palate. The finish is exceptionally long, with oak-heavy tannins continuing to linger on the tongue. With a splash of water, the character softens and mellows but retains its distinct personality. This particular release is excellent and demonstrates how an additional year in the barrel can elevate a great whiskey to an exceptional one.

The aroma is dominated by oak and barrel char, as expected for a 17-year-old, but after letting it breathe, I detect sugar and nutmeg. It almost resembles sweet tea. On the palate, it's fantastic. It's incredibly smooth. The balance between sweetness and age is perfect, with the age and char moderating the brown sugar sweetness. Cinnamon emerges as you appreciate its sweetness, reminding you that you're drinking bourbon. The finish is gentle but lasts for a considerable time. This is a very good pour, glad I opened it!

(Brief Note) - A truly sublime serving...the aroma is magnificent, but pales compared to the flavor, which is fruity and sweet, yet balanced with an astonishing level of barrel complexity for its age. This bottle isn't on my shelf, but belongs to a friend about half a mile away, and I feel compelled to offer my services to house-sit for their next vacation. Top ten, likely top five, and possibly top 2 or 3 whiskey I've ever tasted. I'll rate it a 5... only a few could possibly be better!

Yes, I've just awarded this a "5". It's the second time OF BIB has utterly amazed me. I'm not sure how it gets any better than this. Strawberry vanilla cream with a punch of spice, including cinnamon and clove. I added a drop of water to a separate pour, not wanting to risk the glass. Good decision. Water wasn't needed. It diminishes the intense aroma and the initial fruity blast. The spice becomes more prominent. Notes of maple appear occasionally, along with lovely dark brown sugar and oak. Simply spectacular.