J's Whisky Diary

Kentucky Owl Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey is an 11 year old blended rye whiskey, distilled and bottled in KY, as signified by the "Kentucky Straight" appellation. The name of the brand is resurrected from a pre-prohibition distillery founded and run by the great-grandparents of master blender Dixon Dedman. However, it is not clear where the barrels for their products are sourced, likely a range of large-scale producers across the state; it is bottled on a contract basis by Strong Spirits in Bardstown. Kentucky Owl is a buzzy brand, with bottles selling well above their already significant retail price on the gray market; accordingly, after only a few years, they've already been snapped up by the Stoli Group, the American arm of the SPI group, with plans rumored for a $150 million, 400 plus acre "distillery park" facility to begin production in 2020. Notably, this would place the release of a 100% grain-to-glass Kentucky Owl Rye in the year 2031; one can only ho...

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" de...