Old Fitzgerald 19 Year Bottled in Bond Bourbon (Fall 2022)

I've been trying to find this bottle for over a year. Finally located one at a reasonable price, and it was absolutely worth the effort. In short: If you enjoy (or can moderately handle) oak, this is a premium bourbon. The only thing preventing it from achieving a perfect score is its proof. Nose: Oak, leather, spice, chocolate, and caramel. This smells dark and rich [insert a silly joke here]. Palate: Initially dusty oak, then leather, followed by a sweet and spicy middle. The flavor is very rich. It doesn't have as much body as I'd prefer; however, for a BiB, it could certainly be thinner. Finish: Pleasant vanilla and sweeter notes fade into a seasoned, spicy oak note that lingered long after the sip. Overall: Honestly, if you can find this for under $500 and want to treat yourself, you could make a much worse choice. As stated, if it had a slightly higher proof and more body, it would likely be the ideal pour.

A small serving from a local shop owner, who shall remain unnamed, was much appreciated. The aroma presents a lot of oak alongside some sweetness, spice, and fruity tobacco notes, making it quite interesting. The oak dominates the taste, and while a recent taste of the 17-year expression was light and lively, this one, despite its character, feels like a slower, heavier-footed wanderer rather than a spry dancer, likely due to the extra two years. Tobacco and other pipe-like scents (clove perhaps) are prominent, with some fruit lurking beneath, which might have been more pronounced with a bit more maturation. Is this a worthwhile pour? Absolutely! However, in my opinion, it doesn't quite measure up to the 17-year expression; I hope that's not too controversial.

So glad to be able to review this. Nose: Baking spices and caramel, with some raisin or fig notes. Palate: The body is fantastic, coating the tongue like maple syrup. Notes of cola, char, and anise are present, along with cinnamon and dried fruit. A slight nutty flavor emerges in the background with good, dry oak tannins. It's not excessively dry, but it enhances the other flavors. Candy peanut and toffee notes round out the tannins while the dryness and sweetness remain. Exceptionally balanced with a superb mouthfeel. While some have suggested this spent too long in the barrel, perhaps their sample was not as good as a full bottle. This is wonderful.

Loads of oak on the nose, along with more reticent notes of cocoa, vanilla bean and pipe tobacco. The initial tasting reveals a whole lot of sweet, with an unusual floral bent. The oak comes through here as well, but not as aggressive as one might expect. There are actually a lot of disparate elements that keep popping up as the tasting progresses, but they are more curious than distracting. Everything is tied together with a friendly malted barley character that exudes southern hospitality. A different expression from what we have come to expect in this series, but a winner nonetheless.

Nose: Rich caramel and oak, with a hint of cinnamon and vanilla. Body: Thin to medium. Palate: Heavy on the oak, followed by flat cola and caramel. Finish: Long, with oak and caramel. I appreciated the duration. Note: A one-ounce sample from a friend. This is a good drink, but quite one-dimensional. I consumed it after very spicy Thai food, which might have influenced my perception. The 17 expression, with its dark berry notes, I believe is superior. This is good, but not exceptional.

Nose: Apple, dark chocolate, cedar, toasted caramel, vanilla, campfire, cloves, warm pie crust, and floral notes? Palate: Rich and fruity with dark fruits, baking spices, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, berry jam, and charred oak. Finish: Wood and spice with a lightly sweet conclusion. This is really good mixed with Dr. Pepper. Seriously though, this is some top-notch stuff. Almost exotic.