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Old Grand Dad 114

Old Grand Dad is a brand of straight bourbon whiskeys distilled by Beam-Suntory in Kentucky, notable for the higher percentage of rye compared to the standard Beam mash bill. The brand is named for Basil Hayden Sr., the famed distiller. Old Grand Dad is bottled at three different proofs; 80, 100 (bonded), and 114. While the 80 proof offering is entirely forgettable, I have long prized "Bonded OGD" as an accessible, classic, and extremely affordable bourbon, providing an introduction for the neophyte, a standby for those "ballin'-on-a-budget," and a terrific base for bourbon cocktails; make a pitcher of juleps for your friends with a bottle of Bonded and you'll be a hero to anyone who can remember what they tasted like. In comparison to the simplicity and accessibility of the bonded offering, 114 proof requires a bit more of its audience.

This is by no means a "fine" spirit, no age statement is given, aside from the "straight bourbon" designation (24 months), and it consequently possesses a noticeably green nose, bolstered by the dill, herbal notes of the rye; combining young wood, rye, and the high bottling proof, the aromas tend in the direction of permanent marker, with only the faintest hint of caramel and vanilla. The palate, however, has much more to offer, with rye taking center stage over a surprisingly soft background of vanilla, baking spices, and a refreshing minty finish, all of which is marred somewhat by the harshness of green oak. As a sipping whiskey, it falls just short of the 100 proof bottling. However, it may well be its superior when it comes to cocktailing prowess, as it has a considerably more forceful character and will shine through in all but the most elaborate of concoctions; exercise caution, of course, when mixing high-proof spirits—a teaspoon of sugar will, indeed, help the medicine go down, perhaps too readily.

Old Grand Dad is something of an oddity, with many outlets reporting that it's been on the chopping block at Beam-Suntory for several years. It represents a clear improvement over the Jim Beam line-up and, for my money, it bests all but the 10 year offering from Bulleit, but it's not a real competitor for products like Maker's Mark or Woodford Reserve, but then, those labels command a (sometimes significant) premium in price. For drinking neat, it would be hard to assert that OGD 114 is a better choice, but if you're looking for a new go-to on the cocktail cart, you'd be hard-pressed to get more for your money.

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