Old Fitzgerald Bottled In Bond Bourbon Review (Spring 2025)

By Richard Thomas

Rating: B

At this juncture, I think its necessary to underline the expansion of the Old Fitzgerald brand. When Heaven Hill reintroduced the brand to enthusiasts several years ago, it was revamped as a bi-annual, bottled in bond expression of their wheated bourbon stock. Moreover, Old Fitz Bonded routinely clocked in at more than twice the minimum four years aging required by the Bottled in Bond statute.

But now Old Fitzgerald has seen a brand extension, introducing a 7 year old bonded version. This comes at the same time as the subject for today’s exploration, the Spring 2025 Old Fitz Bottled in Bond, which is a nine year old. The original series was always called the Decanter Series, but now that distinction becomes important, as their is something to distinguish it from. As confusing, both the 7 year old bonded and the Spring releases of the Decanter Series have green labels. In this case, the most direct way to separate the two is bottling: the Decanter Series comes in exactly that bottling, complete with glass-handled stopper. The new 7 year old is in a more regular bottle.

That explained, this 15th installment of the Old Fitz Decanter Series was distilled at Bernheim Distillery in spring 2016. In keeping with the requirements of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, it was matured in a government-supervised warehouse, exceeds the minimum requirement of four years by a wide margin, and was bottled at 100 proof.

The Bourbon
Oddly for a nine year old bourbon, my pour took on a copper color in the Glencairn, much lighter appearance than I expected.

Another surprise was that the nose presented itself as a little hot. What made that so unexpected is this whiskey is nine years old and weighs in not as a high octane cask strength release, but at 100 proof. I thought something might be off with my snout that day, so I gave the bourbon another nosing a few days later and for the same result. So, a little hot it is.

Pushing past the surprising pinch of heat, the scent was baked apple: nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger; melted brown sugar; and cooked green apples. The flavor led with a nutty and oaky note; before then bringing forward a current of spicy, fresh ginger shavings and pepper; and finally the sweet baked apples aspect from the nose to smother the palate. The latter has picked up notes of butterscotch and caramel. The finish returns to the procession of the palate, opening nutty before turning spicy and woody, and staying on that last part as it fades away.

I enjoyed this most recent release of Old Fitz Bonded well enough, so if my B grading seems out of place, don’t forget that jab of heat in the nose. It is out of sorts and jarring, so much so as to bring down the overall grade by a notch all by itself. If one skips the nosing, as might be the case with a drink on the rocks, then the bourbon moves up to B+.

The Price
Officially, this bottle goes for $130. You’ll be lucky to pay that, though: I’m seeing online retailers listing it for $500.