Old Grand-Dad is a high rye bourbon offered in a couple of different proof points. This one is their 100 proof Bottled-in-Bond bourbon whiskey. The “Granddad” reference in the name is homage to Basil Hayden, a very recognizable name in bourbon and also the name of another product I’ve reviewed on this site. Basil Hayden was known for using a higher percentage of rye grain in the mashbill (whiskey grain recipe) for his bourbon whiskey. His grandson, Raymond Hayden, started Old Grand-Dad using his grandfather’s high rye recipe. While we don’t know the exact percentage of rye in the mashbill, I’m guessing it’s pushing somewhere around 30%. If you know, please share.
As a side note, we’ve talked about the term “bottled in bond” before. It essentially refers to a single distillery bourbon whiskey that was distilled all in one single season (vs. pulling from various barrels distilled and aged at different times), and aged in a federally bonded warehouse for a minimum of 4 years. It’s also offered at 100 proof, or 50% alcohol.
Old Grand-Dad Bourbon (Bottled in Bond), 50% abv (100Proof), $19
Color: Medium Amber with Orange tones
Nose: Sweet corn and spicy rye yield to candied orange peel, cinnamon, honeysuckle, maple syrup, and kiln dried wood. There’s an alcohol punch you have to dodge but with time this one opens up nicely.
Palate: Big flavors of brown sugar, orange jellybeans, and loads of woody and peppery spices. The corn and rye is always present and welcoming. A healthy dose of barrel char emerges from mid palate.
Finish: This long finish is leaning towards the char, but mint, black pepper, and corny sweetness give relief.
Overall: This is a hell of a bourbon, and a continuation of the “parade of value” that I’ve been consciously trying to showcase on the site. It’s a marvelous thing when you can find such fantastic whiskey at this price. Old Grand-Dad BIB is a big whiskey with a spicy character, excellent and mature grain quality, and healthy doses of sweetness and wood to add complexity. All of that for around $20 or less.
Sour Mash Manifesto Rating: (8.7 Very Good/Excellent)
Excellent review Jason! I find Old Grandad to be one of the most unique bourbons made. It can be polarizing in the people either really like it or do not care for it. I happen to be in the camp of really liking it (especially the BIB and the 114). It goes to show you that for half the cost of Basil Hayden you can get the same whiskey at a higher proof (albeit one of two years younger). Good to have you back!
I never had the BIB, I have had a bottle of the Old Granddad 114 proof (OGD114). It was interesting, certainly WAY different than any other Beam product, but it had a smell that reminded me of varnish. That was kind of off-putting. The taste was good, but that varnish odor made it difficult for me to like it.
Nice review, Jason. I’m a big fan of OGD BiB. It is kind of a unique bourbon, in so far as I haven’t come across anything with the same taste profile; not even in any of the other Beam products.
It is definbitely a good to very good bourbon for the price.
This is s personal favorite, more than just for the increasingly scarce yet eternally appealing Bottled in Bond designation. I find it a sweeter bourbon, like yourself, but with an amazing array of flavors, and at an attractive price point.
I’m wondering if your “orange” references aren’t just a bit influenced by the garish orange packaging, from the label to the cap?
It’s an unbeatable bourbon, especially for less than a Jackson!
Sam, the orange and rind flavors are there and I challenge you to find them sir! ; ) Seriously, I think it might be what I like most as it lifts this bourbon a great deal. But yes, the packaging certainly appeals to my “Go Vols!” sensibilities. Hell, if you’ve been through the kind of sports-related nightmare (5 years of football irrelevancy and the departure of the much loved but apparently much maligned Bruce Pearl) I’ve been through in the last year, you’ll take anything to cheer you up.
Eric, agreed, quite unique stuff for sure.
Bill, it’s good to be “back”. Been a busy summer so far. Glad you enjoy the Stagg – it’s a Pyle-Household Favorite for sure. Happy 4th to you and yours also.
Texas, I noted in the review you have to dodge a big alcohol punch there – I find this one really benefits from 5 minutes of air time. It’s “loose in the cage” and when you pour a glass it’s ready to fight initially. See if that helps it come around a little more on the nose for you with bit more air time.
Vince – cheers to you. Glad to see everything at Owensboro Bourbon Society is going well. Rutledge, Medley – it’s been a “who’s who” of bourbon at your meetings. Keep up the great work – it’s clearly one of the best societies out there for bourbon enthusiasts.
My favorite bourbon! I find the peppery, strong, edgy bourbons with a high rye content to be very flavorful and enjoyable. For the PLCB price of $18.99, it’s a good value and readily available. I find this bourbon similar to the hard-to-find Old Heaven Hill gold label BIB bourbon. Spicy and peppery! I just bought a bottle of OGD BIB this evening and will be giving the remnants of my old bottle to a friend that is just getting into American whiskey drinking.
As a side note, I’d like to hear a review of Mellow Corn or Hirsch Corn Whiskey. I acquired bottles of both and find them to be absolutely wonderful. I’ve heard so much bad press about them and how awful they are, but I went ahead and got them anyway and I can’t stop pouring glasses of them!
Ethan I can oblige on the Mellow Corn. I’ve got that, Dixie Dew, and J.W. Corn queued up for a little look at corn whiskey coming soon. Thanks for the comment!
Jason,
The varnish note I get isn’t an alcohol note. It is a rye-like note but with a funny overtone. However that is the 114, it may not be in the BIB. So when I can I will try it again.
Good to have you back.
Jason,
Hope you’ll also include Southern Corn Whisky from 13th Colony here in GA in your upcoming ‘corn’ review. Also keep Prichard’s Double Barrelled on your radar. Wonderful stuff! Glad you’re having a great summer.
We’re drinking our bourbon!
Definitely agree with JP that this has orange flavors. It makes an excellent mixed drink. Came up with this last night:
Ice, shot of Old GD & Simply Lime (limeade) to top off.
The orange flavors go really well w/lime – just like triple-sec (orange liqueur) in a margarita & this bourbon can stand up to mixing.
Would have never tried this bourbon until I read your review. I am impressed! For the price point this rates above many higher priced bourbons. Will definately be revisiting Old Grand Dad!
Doug, if you give Old Grandad a little time to settle once you pour it in the glass, you will be rewarded. Cheers!
I generally never buy anything cheaper than Maker’s for fear of ending up with a bottle of rotgut. After reading this review I was interested in diving into the world of value bourbons. I enjoy high rye bourbons and this one does not disappoint. I thought it paired well with a cigar, but need to revisit and try to find those orange flavors you mentioned. I look forward to more of your recommendations for “recession” bourbons.
BDUB, thanks for the comment. Thanks for bringing up something that is quite common for folks. Many times we equate price with quality. And while that CAN be true, it is not always the case. In regards to Bourbon and Whiskey in general, there are some tremendous products out there at great prices.
damn Jason, this is really good. i scored this last saturday and from the looks of the bottle i must have liked it then. but now that i’m sitting down and actually tasting it with you, i really do like it a lot. no wonder i hit it hard saturday. as with other whiskeys i’ve discovered through your reviews, it now has permanent residence in my cabinet.
Thanks again Jason!
Charles, it really is excellent. Glad you like it and hope you are doing well.
Based on your review, I decided to pick up a bottle of Old GrandDad BiB tonight. The spirit shoppe that I found it at was selling for a little over $22 (four roses yellow was cheaper here) but I went for it.
Am I tasting a lot of rye here?
Not bad at all … still deciding. Currently (it’s hot outside) I’m sampling this on the rocks.
Keep up the good work. Enjoy your site and the banter.
Jim
Jim, I am glad you enjoy the Old Grand-Dad. It certainly does have some good rye bite.
Jason:
Any chance of an Old Crow regular and reserve review?
Ken I may very well get to it soon. Stay tuned.
Jason,
I know you say the OGD BIB has no age statement, but all BIBs must be at least 4 years. I’m sure you know that but you might have mentioned it in the review. I think it’s a great product. Jim Murray prefers the lower proof version he actually thinks the oak does “encroach” a bit on the BIB. I’ll have to try them side by sid.
Keep up the good work, it’s so helpful to have someone to do a tasting with on a regular old Thursday night!
ps I know I wrote you and said that I did not like Basil Hayden’s. I wonder why since I like this one so much? It could be that the price raised my expectation beyond what the whisky could meet. Or it could be that you’re right and they should bottle Basil H at a higher proof (I believe you recommended that). Or maybe I am a reverse whisky snob haha.
Hello Jason,
I just wanted to say, excellent review on this product. I was recently turned on to Old Grand Dad by my grandfather. He said he was given a bottle of OGD from his grandfather either in the mid 50′s or early 60s, he can’t really remember. He showed me the bottle and I was wondering how you can establish what year it was bottled and how old it is. I have been dying to know, but there are no indicators on the bottle. There is however, an original seal on the cap and neck of the bottle that says Internal Revenue Service with I believe a serial number which says “Bottle and Stamp”. Any info on how to find out its age would be much appreciated! Thanks
Bryan I’ll see what I can find out. I’m not sure about that one off the cuff, but thanks for the comment man. Will keep you posted if I can find anything out.
I came across a couple decanters of Old Grandad that belonged to my Father-in-Law from c. 1960. There is maybe an inch gone even though the seal is unbroken. I guess it evaporated. Is it potable? Valuable?
Nice review, I am a bourbon novice but I have been drinking old Grand Dad for over 20 years. Old Grand Dad was the first Bourbon I picked up and even though I have tried a few other cheaper brands I always come back to this. I might have tried a few other more expensive brands too but for me Old Grand Dad (maybe because it was my first) is what I judge other Bourbons against. It is nice to see descriptions put to what I just know. Good Bourbon that you can turn to for comfort. By the way I dont really consider Old Grand Dad to be a “cheap” Bourbon more of a middle priced product. If I have spelled anything wrong it might be because I am enjoying Old Grand Dad now.
I have a little twinge of nostalgia every time I crack open a bottle of this stuff. My first pour of it was from a bottle I obtained at a REAL liquor warehouse sale back in 85 or 86. The loud orange label made it a must-try. I don’t think they have changed this label in at least a quarter of a century. Why mess with what works? I do get that off-note that Texas mentioned when I am nosing it in my Glencairn. I wouldn’t quite call it varnish, but maybe sort of a “soapy” smell. As Ralfy says, “It’s not bad, it’s just THERE, and it’s fine.” I find this one interesting primarily because the corn and the rye both assert themselves noticeably. It’s usually one or the other that dominates, but in this bourbon they both share the bed. Nice, especially for the price.
I always add about a half teaspoon of water from my R/O system to a whiskey like this. It is not enough, really, to say it’s not still “neat,” but it accelerates the opening up. Alcohol is a solvent that keeps certain flavor notes in solution. You can break loose some of those flavors by taking the alcohol down a fraction of a percent. Example: A half teaspoon of pure water is not going to mean squat for the proof of Booker’s, but it sure does get the spirit to settle down faster.
Old Grand Dad 100 & Wild Turkey are the yin & yang at the core of the great bourbon wheel of life.
Yin is characterized as slow, soft, yielding, diffuse, cold, wet, and passive; and is associated with water, earth, the moon, femininity and nighttime.
Yang, by contrast, is fast, hard, solid, focused, hot, dry, and aggressive; and is associated with fire, sky, the sun, masculinity and daytime.
Old Grand Dad 100 is central to understanding where you real tastes lie!
WillyL – it’s certainly a whiskey one can use to get bearings on what they like and do not like. But to me both of those are on the harder, faster side of things. They would be on the Yang side and on the Yin side would be softer whiskeys like Maker’s Mark, W.L. Weller Special Reserve, etc. Just my thoughts.
Jason – thanks for the tip about letting this one breathe…works for me!
Am I the only one getting some peanut on the finish?
Jason, been reviewing my bourbons his spring and Pappy has been hard to find even in Kentucky. Disappointing. Four Roses SB is always a top contender but Old Grad Dad BIB NEVER fails to rival the best of the best. Who would have thought an under $20.00 bottle of bourbon would be so good? Took your advice, let it open up a bit. Wow….good stuff. Love your site and enjoy your bourbon reviews!
Glad it worked out for you Doug. Let the heat die down a shade and you are rewarded with this pour. Makes a FANTASTIC julep also!
Great whiskey, can’t find a better whiskey at any price..
Just tried OGD. Flawless oak and grain balance. Nothing dominates. OGD is so much like a chewy jellybean. Back palate has that savory herb like thyme, that pleasant char arrival, drying heat. the mint and prickly spice don’t dominate. Mine was a 86 proof. I notice a slight pastry note. maybe bigger proof ones have more of this pasty note? Yes the orange Label just makes me think of orange rock candy in the smell and taste.
I have an old bottle of OGD. I don’t know anything about it and I thought about opening it, but I wanted to find out any info if I could. It is a one pint bottle says distilled and bottled under us gov supervision by the ogd distillery, co. frankfort, ky louisville ky
it says dist. by National Distillers on the back. It has an long gold colored plastic cap with a pink tape that says US Internal Revenue Tax Paid and there is a No. 606392019 , it says 86 proof . The bottom of the bottle says 413 liquor bottle 5575 L-10422. Thats really about it, I can’t find a pic of this bottle online. On the label, the picture of the old man is on top of the words Old Grand-Dad. Thanks to anyone who knows anything.
Thanks again for steering us to another great whiskey. Nevermind that it was only a little over $20. I am enjoying a different whiskey every month or so. I’m just finishing the 100 proof Rittenhouse you recommended also $20! Keep up the good work. I know its hard work but someone has to do it!
Thanks Wes!
how does it compare to Basil Hayden? Ive had old OGD 86 and loved it. I’m struggling with Rare Breed opened now. I must keep buying polar opposites whiskies Im after.
Jamie, it’s bigger and bolder than Basil. Excellent rye-forward bourbon for sure. I enjoy Basil, it’s especially good, but you have more options with OGD, and it’s a much better price.
I still have not had the BIB..but I did retry the 114. I did not get that varnish taste this time..as a matter of fact I really love Old Grand Dad114. It would be nice to see a review of it when you have the time.
I came across this website by accident while searching for something else. I am learning alot. I posted a comment about my first time experience with Templeton Rye, and now a comment about Old Grand Dad:
To me, Old Grand Dad is a great bourbon whiskey. I’ve been drinking it for decades. My daddy drank it, and that is probably why I do. I always have a bottle (which takes me at least a year to finish). I also enjoy Jack Daniels, George Dickel, and Makers Mark. What I find amusing though is that there is a love it or hate it relationship with it when I offer it to others. Almost everyone prefers Jack Daniels when given a choice. Then they want to mix the JD with Coke! Whiskey and Coke? I want to throw them out the door! To me JD and GD are not mixing whiskies. It is either straight up or on the rocks. That is what makes Old Grand Dad a great bourbon, it is also a good mixer (but NOT with Coke!). I enjoy OGD straight, on the rocks, with ginger ale, and of course my all time favorite for special occassions: Manhattans.
All of this is my own personal taste and opinions on whiskey drinking. To me if you want to mix whiskey with Coke, use Seagram’s 7.
Got a bottle of O.G.D 86. Is good and more balance flavor than Basil Hayden I.M.O For the price of $ 13.00 is a bargain!
HJi Jayson:
I sure enjoyed reading your description and review of Old Grand Dad. I’m not a expert of fine whiskeys as you are but have enherited a couple full sealed bottles of GD., and would love to know what dollar value a collector of same would estimate.
One bottle 86 proof 500 ML with tax stamp intact , no date “AtTT Bottle Stamp”" on it.aquired same as one below. The other is also 86 proof, one quart, tax stamp says 1965 EXPORT Ol Grand Dad Distillary,#0027790.
Would you be able to advise me. I wouldwant to be fair to a buyer as well as myself. Thanks in advance. Would appreciate a email from you.
I just picked picked up some OGD 114 and I like it very much. The extra alcohol was hardly noticeable. To me I see a close similarity to OFF BIB 100 Proof which I think is a great bourbon. This style of boubon is becoming my favorite. Thanks Jason, keep finding these inexpensive gems.
Hi, my friend is selling a 1958 old dad bourbon, he never open (the seal is intact), he is doing and auction. I want to buy for my dad but I want to paid the right price, how much it would be?
Thanks
I learned to like this bourbon from my mother, who has always preferred it to the whiskey my father prefers (we are from Tennessee, so you can guess what my dad likes.) This has long been the bourbon of choice at our house for mixed drinks, probably because of the high rye content, which tends to have fewer off-notes in drinks containing acidy fruit juices, vermouth, etc. One of the nice qualities has to do with the high alcohol (100 proof) which makes even a whiskey sour type drink deliver a punch in spite of the mixers. That being said, I like to sip this whiskey over a large ice ball or cube and actually enjoy the strong flavor of alcohol.
Id love to see your opinions on an OGD 114….