BDanner
Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon
Bourbon — Kentucky, USA
Reviewed
August 31, 2023 (edited December 10, 2023)
*This is my third crack at reviewing this one.. As is tradition with me an OGD Bonded, it's an up and down relationship.
*NOSE: At first, some sting from the proof and pretty one dimensional (think Cinnamon Toothpick). Let it breathe for a few and come back and you get Leather, Dusty Oak, Peanut Shells, Clove, Cinnamon, Burnt Sugar, and Tobacco. With time it develops a Fruit Tartness.
*NEAT: Decent Coating Mouthfeel. As expected Rye Spice with Vanilla, Clove, Cinnamon, Oak Tannins, a Hint of Barnyard with the Clove, Cinnamon, and Oak Coating an Layering after a Medium Length Finish. Nice Blooming KYHug.
*SPLASH: Dials up the Sweetness a bit and brings a Stone Fruit Tartness (Peach, Nectarine).
*VERDICT: Solid Bourbon and the highest score I've given it yet. I've yo-yo'ed from 3.75 to 2.75 to 4. Don't know if the profile fluctuates or if I just have to be in the mood. Mixes great in Old-Fashioneds and High Balls, passable Neat, and good with a large rock. I found myself asking, "Why don't I buy this more?"... Then reading my previous reviews of this, I got my answer. OGD Bonded is only a couple bucks less than OGD114, and around the same price as Wild Turkey 101. And that's the answer. WT101 has a lot of the same profile, and an extra few years of barrel time for the same price. Gimme' the Turkey or the 114 every time.
25.0
USD
per
Bottle
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
I agree BDanner . GrandDad 114 is always better than Old GrandDad Bonded proof
@ghill40509 I agree with you on distillation seasons. It has to have some effect. @Cornmuse definitely a good change on occasion and of the 3 BIB’s I’m drinking currently (Early Times & Benchmark are the others) this is ranking ahead.
Spicy and bold, this is a good change up from WT101 or EWBiB but its super power is its affinity for ginger. Try it with a good ginger ale or even in an OF using a ginger simple. Nice tasting notes.
I have similar experiences with OGDBIB. My theory relates to the seasonal distillation and the bib rules say you can't blend more than one season. While it's not single barrel, it is a highly variable small batch.