🥃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.

🍺 Costco's Kirkland Vintage Ale 2025 - Review & Tasting Notes

Fall is in the air, and that means we have yet another year of Kirkland's Vintage Ale! Brewed proudly by Deschutes (pronounced "Da-Shootz") in Bend, Oregon, this Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout spends nine months in the wood, picking up what the whiskey left behind (mostly vanillin and tannins). Bottled over the summer, this particular beer is from Lot B. Neither Costco nor the packaging give us much additional detail beyond the ABV and style. I remember finding last year 's edition to be solid but nothing to write home about, fairly dry but a pleasant pour. The use of the work "vintage" to me implies that some changes may be made year-to-year but we'll have to see if our taste buds can help us validate. How does the 2025 vintage fair? 💅Style: Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout 🛒Sourced: $7.99 Costco, GA for a 22oz bottle. $2 cheaper than the 2024 edition! 💥Hops: Not Mentioned sadly. Other ingredients include chocolate malt, milled oats and Dutc...

🥃Review #20 Elijah Craig Barrel Proof - Private Barrel Distiller's Selection

📚 Background: Released in three batches per year, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey is almost always a hit with aficionados. Barrel proof means that, of course, the whiskey is not cut with water after being dumped from the barrel. The "Private Barrel" moniker further tells you that not the barrel was specially selected and not batched or blended. This can cut both ways as single barrel whiskies sometimes differ significantly from their batched counterparts which have the benefit of distiller curation to even out any off notes. If your local store owner's tastes align with yours, their barrel picks may be better than anything else you can find. On the other hand, a less conscientious selector may pick you a big loser of a barrel. This bottle comes from Costco which means that the private barrel is a "distiller's selection" and not picked by a Costco employee specifically. Typically for these big releases the manufacturer will try...

🥃Review #64: E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon - 2025

Named for Colonel E.H. Taylor JR (Kentucky Colonel - not a military man), this entry level offering honor's Taylor's commitment to quality as an early promoter of the bottled-in-bond act and designation. Relatively new to Buffalo Trace's portfolio, the brand was launched in 2011. Born in Kentucky, Taylor initially worked in banking, financing distilleries before acquiring the Old Fire Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery in 1869, named for expansive copper piping which Taylor believed would assist in eliminating impurities (stills are made of copper because it removes sulfur compounds and is naturally antimicrobial, though the time spent in transition lines is usually pretty minimal). After facing financial ruin on a number of occasions, he eventually sold a fairly successful operation to George T. Stagg in 1879 which would go on to be known as the Buffalo Trace of today. The E.H. Taylor lineup features this Small Batch, Single Barrel, Barrel Proof, Straight Rye, Barrel Proof Rye, a...

☕ All Java Monster Flavors Tasted & Ranked

As a habitual caffeine abuser, I have a soft spot for Monster, both for their expansive lineup of flavors as well as their support for Sports and E-sports. Coffee is my standard caffeination vector, so the Java Monster suite of products is the perfect mix of bean flavor and energy boost. In this post, I'll provide my personal rankings and rationale for what is a very strong lineup. Note that I have not been compensated in any way for this write-up... I just like them. Currently, Monster Energy 's Java Monster lineup has five available flavors: Mean Bean - Vanilla Irish Crème Loca Mocha - Chocolate Salted Caramel Café Latte There are two "triple shot" versions of the Vanilla and Mocha which contain 300mg of caffeine though their flavors are very similar to the base versions above. At this point, we should also take a moment of silence for the two cold brew flavors, sweet black and nitro latte. The nitro latte was a personal favorite and I quite liked the sweet black,...

🍺🍷🥃 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. 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 Twisted Tea. Some brands may not have active...

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