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Old Grand-Dad 114 Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
January 20, 2023 (edited January 21, 2023)
N: Hint of orange citrus, then a blast of cherry cough syrup, cinnamon, wood spice, oak, char, shaving cream (with a vanilla fragrance), some earth, some leaves, some pine. More time in the glass tames the cough syrup and brings in a sweet creamed corn.
P: Sweet and spicy with corn, caramel, dash of vanilla cream, big cinnamon note, pine, citrus, oak, bit of a cough drop note with air drawn across it.
F: Big oak and cinnamon spice, Vicks VapoRub, lingering chili pepper heat, earth, and long lingering wood, dried leaves, and more earth.
With notes of cough syrup, cough drops, and Vicks, I think this is what you need to cure what ails you. I suppose that's really all just ethanol with slightly softened edges. That's not to say this doesn't have some edges - it can be harsh at times. It is not a beginner's bourbon. But I do think it's a bourbon that rewards patience and even experience. There's something elevated in this over others in this price range. It is by no means the best in this range, nor the easiest to drink, but it is different - it's like Basil Hayden himself just rolled up his shirtsleeves and is about to clock you in the jaw. There's an old man strength thing going on here. And I like it. I want to watch... hell, take a punch even. Maybe that just means I'm getting older myself. Or maybe I've just barely got enough experience with bourbon now.
Nope. Just getting older.
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Nicely written. I like your metaphor "old man strength thing"... that captures the spirit of this bottle for sure.