🥃Alternatives to Old Fitzgerald Bourbon

Old Fitzgerald Bottled-In-Bond Alternatives Infographic

Each spring and fall, Heaven Hill pops out a new edition of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond series. Inspired by an original 1950's Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the packaging and series pay tribute to the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand and the historic Bottled-in-Bond designation we know and hold so dear. The Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its pedigree, first registered in 1884 before eventually being sold to "Pappy" Van Winkle during Prohibition. In 1999, Heaven Hill bought the brand and began distilling it at its Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, KY. Age statements vary with some editions being as young as 8 years and as old as 17 years. It uses a high wheat mash bill and is known be smooth and easy drinking.

Prized for both the bottle and what's inside, it is almost impossible to find in stores during its limited release windows. MSRP hovers around $140 though secondary prices (ewe) go up to many times that. While definitely a luxury offering, there are some cheaper and more readily available bottles that come close.

Larceny Barrel Proof

Also produced by Heaven Hill, the Larceny family of bourbons has the same or similar mash bill as Old Fizgerald. The barrel proof variety of Larceny comes out three times each year in readily obtainable quantities without dilution. They're a great value at around $60 and have come into their own as a solid choice for those looking for a big wheater. Ealier complaints of strong Banana flavors have subsided into warm baking spices and a relatively smooth finish.

Maker's Mark 101

Maker's Mark is also infamous for its wheated mash bill and the 101 proof variety comes very close to matching Old Fitz. Maker's will be a bit younger than even the youngest Fitz releases but the tasting notes are almost identical. I don't get quite as much fruit from Maker's, owing potentially to it's higher quantity of corn and barley vs. Fitz's increased wheat content.

Rebel 10 Single Barrel

Up until 2019, Lux Row sourced their distillate from Heaven Hill. Rebel 10 Single Barrel can be found with up to 14 year components (barrel date on bottle) and retails for around $100. This is likely the closest you'll get to the higher age statement Old Fitz editions. I haven't yet had the privilege to try this one, but have heard good things.

🥃Review #53: Costco's Kirkland 15YR Highland Single Malt Scotch - 2025

The 2025 release of Costco's Kirkland 15-year Highland Scotch hit shelves in late January and is a recurring installment on an annual cadence. The first pallet to hit my local store sold out almost immediately. Thankfully, we got two more shipments at one pallet each that hung around a bit longer and I was able to snag a bottle. Like in previous years, this Highland Scotch is finished in sherry casks. Alexander Murray & Co. is the bottler with MISA imports out of Texas bringing it to the States for consumption (Costco's standard sourcing pattern for Scotch). The bottle has a nice heft to it and there is an ensconced Alexander Murray Lion adding some nice texture to the front of the bottle. Steve Lipp, CEO of Alexander Murray, calls it "Perfect for after dinner drinking." All-in-all, this shows an attempt to elevate the product and presentation from the ubiquitous blends and non-age stated iterations you'll sometimes find under the Kirkland label. Neither Alex...

🍺 Definitive Light Beer Tier List: Meta-Analysis & Ranking

Trends come and go: Craft Beer, Hard Seltzer, Canned Cocktails, and more. In the world of beverage, the currents are constantly shifting, but one drink has an irrevocable grip on America: Light Beer. Good old beer flavored beer may take a hit from new competition, but brands like Miller Lite and Michelob Ultra constantly sit at the top of sales volume lists, even with the fall of Bud Light and rise of Modelo's Flagship. But which light beer is best? Let's find out. Methodology - Light Beer Ranking Taste preferences vary significantly between consumers, but across a large sample we should be able to get a somewhat representative picture of the populations preferences. For this ranking, we will combine data sourced from multiple beer rating sites with an internal Castle & Cairn house ranking to create an overall beer quality score. The starting population of beer brands will be those that are explicitly branded as "flagship light" or beers with less than 100 calor...

🥃 Review #40: Kirkland Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (2024)

Like Costco's other Scotches, the Kirkland Signature Islay Single Malt is bottled for Alexander Murray and imported by MISA Imports after being distilled and aged in Scotland (TTB.gov plant registry TX-I-1277). The isle of Islay is one of the southern most islands in Scotland and is one of the five whisky regions ensconced in law. There are only nine active distilleries on the island, and the Islay style is typified by strong peat or smoky flavors. As a single malt, we know that the juice in this bottle comes entirely from one of those nine! All of the distilleries are significantly smaller than Glenlivet and many of the mainland producers. Taste testing has people split between Caol Illa, Bruichladdich (Port Charlotte), and Bunnahabhain as being the source. Caol Illa and Laphroig both have done deals for private brand scotch without rights to name the source distillery, but Laphroig does not match the flavor profile for this bottle. Realistically, Caol Illa is the most likely cand...

🍺🍷🥃 Beer, Wine, and Spirits Rebate Website Master List

If there is anything I love more than a good drink, it's saving money buying that good drink! The rules for providing discounts on alcohol differ substantially between states with some allowing outright discounts or coupons and others entirely disallowing any sort of purchase incentive. Thankfully though, in my native Georgia as well as most states, a simple reimbursement approach is permissible. Last Updated & Validated 2/4/2026 . Alcohol Rebate Site Master List The following sites are relatively stable for each manufacturer. New offers usually come out every few months. None of these are affiliate links and I provide no assurance as to the process. I have saved so much money using rebates and hope you have similar success. Best practices and general process advice will be presented at the bottom. New sites will be added as I uncover them. Beer Rebates Boston Beer Company Brands - Angry Orchard, Dogfish head, Hard Mountain Dew, Samuel Adams, Sun Crusher, Truly, and Twis...

🎮 Call of Duty Warzone - The Drinking Game

Fairly self explanatory per the graphic below. What could be more fun than tossing back a few cold ones with your closest buds while rampaging through one of your favorite video games? Call of Duty Warzone might not have as much nostalgia as it did in the Verdansk days, but it still has some charm. The best part: you'll already be at home when you're done so there's no need to worry about a designated driver! Obligatory plug to know your limits, be legal, and drink responsibly, we don't respawn IRL (yes I know that's a cringe statement - that's the joke). Call of Duty Warzone Drinking Game Prep To play the game, you'll need the following in addition to an internet connection, gaming device, and Call of Duty: A Party Sipper of your Choice - I recommend something relatively low ABV. We balanced the rules for a player of moderate ability and a sipper of 4-8% alcohol. Light beer is my go-to here since it has enough lovely hydrating water to soak up any shots. ...

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